And we, with our unveiled faces reflecting like mirrors the brightness of the Lord, all grow brighter and brighter as we are turned into the image that we reflect; this is the work of the Lord who is Spirit.
This is beautifully described and faithfully practiced in the hesychastic tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Greek word “hesychia” means rest, and hesychastic prayer leads us to rest in God. It is described as a descending with the mind into the heart, in order to stand there in the presence of God. Therefore it is also called the prayer of the heart. The most commonly used words are those of the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner,” but sometimes shorter sentences are used, or just the name “Jesus.” Centering prayer, as introduced by Basil Pennington, and the Maranatha (Come, Lord Jesus) prayer, described by John Main, are variations of this form of prayer
St. Josemaria would ask: How are you practising charity? I would add, how are you practicing charity at home? Charity leads us to forget about ourselves and think about others. The moment may come when the only thing our daily examination consists of is to say: "Lord, I haven't thought about myself, only about you and the others." When there is love, there is no time for self-seeking. There is no time for pride. We see only opportunities of serving.
Take refuge in your divine sonship: God is your most loving Father. In this lies your security, a haven where you can drop anchor no matter what is happening on the surface of the sea of life. And you will find joy, strength, optimism: victory!
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