“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ Luke 18:13
“A brother named John came from the coast to Father Philimon and, clasping his feet, said to him: ‘What shall I do to be saved? For my intellect vacillates to and fro and strays after all the wrong things.’ After a pause, the father replied: ‘This is one of the outer passions and it stays with you because you still have not acquired a perfect longing for God. The warmth of this longing and of the knowledge of God has not yet come to you.’
The brother said to him: ‘What shall I do, father?’ Abba Philimon replied; ‘Meditate inwardly for a while, deep in your heart; for this can cleanse your intellect of these things.’ The brother, not understanding what was said, asked the Elder: ‘What is inward meditation, father?’ The Elder replied: ‘Keep watch in your heart; and with watchfulness say in your mind with awe and trembling “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon me.” For this is the advice which the blessed Diadochos gave to beginners.
The brother departed; and with the help of God and the Elder’s prayers he found stillness and for a while was filled with sweetness by this meditation. But then it suddenly left him and he could, not practice it or pray watchfully. So he went again to the Elder and told him what had happened. And the Elder said to him: ‘You have had a brief taste of stillness and inner work, and have experienced the sweetness that comes from them. This is what you should always be doing in your heart: whether eating or drinking, in company or outside your cell, or on a journey, repeat that prayer with a watchful mind and an undeflected intellect; also chant, and meditate on prayers and psalms. Even when carrying out needful tasks, do not let your intellect be idle but keep it meditating inwardly and praying.
For in this way you can grasp the depths of divine Scripture and the power hidden in it, and give unceasing work to the intellect, thus fulfilling the apostolic commando “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). Pay strict attention to your heart and watch over it, so that it does not give admittance to thoughts that are evil or in any way vain and useless. Without interruption, whether asleep or awake, eating, drinking, or to company, let your heart inwardly and mentally at times be meditating on the psalms, at other times be repeating the prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy
upon me.”
Abba Philimon in The Philokalia: The Complete Text: Volume 2, compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Makarius of Corinth (London: Faber & Faber, 1979) 347.
I am scheduled to depart from China today. Abba Philimon reminds me to finish well, to carry out needful tasks but also to pray nonstop.
I found the names here interesting. Why? I am typing the the day before entering China and I am going to serve a pastor named John who lives on the coast in Qingdao, China.
I feel God telling me to remind him of this truth so that he remembers the things I share with him and does not forget them. He can remember by praying nonstop.
I have learned that I am speaking far more than planned. And they have asked me to teach them all about the Apostolic Fathers. The disciples discipled by the disciples.
Pray with me that the examples of the Apostolic Fathers will inspire them to carry out needful tasks and pray nonstop despite the reality and prospect of persecution.
Pray the testimonies of these saints will inspire them to live out the teachings of Jesus without fear and with great power and peace. Here is a simple list of the main Apostolic Fathers and key writings:
– Clement of Rome (Bishop of Rome)
– Ignatius of Antioch (Bishop of Antioch)
– Polycarp of Smyrna (Bishop of Smyrna)
– Papias of Hierapolis (Bishop)
– Quadratus of Athens
Key Writings of the Apostolic Fathers
– The Didachē (Also known as “Teaching of the Twelve Apostles”)
– The Shepherd of Hermas
– The Epistle of Barnabas
– The Letter to Diognetus
– The Martyrdom of Polycarp
– First and Second Letter of Clement
– Seven Letters of Ignatius
– Letter of Polycarp to the Philippians
They were not included in the New Testament canon as these people did not meet Jesus but were disciples of disciples. But their lives point people to Jesus and Scripture in powerful ways.