In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Saint Paul asks us to ‘pray without ceasing’ (1 Thessalonians 1.17). The various meditative and contemplative practices developed by Christians throughout the centuries are attempts to observe the apostle’s exhortation.
Among these practices, I find the Jesus Prayer the most helpful in my day-to-day life. Developed in its present form among Eastern Orthodox Christians, it has roots in the New Testament, especially the words of the tax collector in Jesus’ parable, who stood at a distance from the temple, looked down, beat his chest and simply prayed, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner’ (Luke 18.13).
The Jesus Prayer is usually expressed like this:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
It is spoken several times. I like to pray it in four breaths: (1, in) Lord Jesus Christ, (2, out) Son of God, (3, in) have mercy on me, (4, out) a sinner.
This rhythmic way of praying establishes the prayer as part of our breathing, the most basic activity of our day-to-day-lives. It makes praying natural and constant. It is a way of immersing soul and body in the prayer we make.
What is mercy? It is the kindness a person shows when he is in a position of power over another. It is when the choice that makes a difference to us is in someone else’s hands, and they choose kindness over judgement. As our Creator and Sustainer, God is perpetually in a position of power over us, but out of his love he treats us with mercy. Where God’s anger and displeasure are passing, according to the Psalmist (Psalm 30.5), his mercy is an established, eternal part of his character. He chooses to be loving towards us. Always.
This does not change when we sin: He has the power to forgive, to save and to sanctify, and in becoming incarnate in Jesus, he makes the first move towards us. Prophetically, the Wisdom of Solomon puts it this way: ‘When peaceful silence lay over all, and night was in the midst of her swift course: from your royal throne, O God, down from the heavens, leapt your almighty Word’ (Wisdom 18.14). God’s mercy is shown when the almighty Word creates, and God’s mercy is shown when the almighty Word lives, dies and rises again in the flesh.
Our journey with God is a journey into God’s loving kindness (a phrase I heard from from the Revd Dr Stephen Cherry and immediately loved), and praying the Jesus Prayer keeps this at the forefront of our minds.
I find that praying it as I go about my day – perhaps a few times as I sit at my desk, a dozen times walking down the street or forty times sitting on the bus (rosary beads are an excellent aid to counting) – guides my thoughts, reminding me of God’s mercy towards me and making me mindful of and merciful towards others.
Try it! Next time you have a few moments to spare, pray the Jesus Prayer a few times. Do it the next time you have a few moments, and then the next time, until it becomes as instinctive as breathing; and see how it brings your heart and mind closer to God.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.