Prayer

Rejoice Always! Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. -St. Paul, I Thessalonians 5:16-18

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sin rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. -Jesus, Matthew 5:44-45

Bring to God quiet, humble prayers. -St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, The Field, p. 144

Do not search for exalted experiences in prayer . . . seek instead the resurrection of your dead, petrified heart . . . -St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, The Field, p. 145

Luke 19:1-10. In this reading we note Zacchaeus’sense of eager expectation, the intensity of his desire to see our Lord, and we apply this to ourselves. If, as we prepare for Lent, there is real eagerness in our hearts, if we have an intense desire for a clearer vision of Christ, then our hopes will be fulfilled during the fast indeed, we shall, like Zacchaeus, receive far more than we expect. -The Lenten Triodion, St. Tikhon’s Seminary Press. P. 44