Which “Way”?
26 02 2008
Lenten greetings and peace!
I’m currently reading The Way of A Pilgrim, which is a classic work written back in the 1850s. This is the book where we find the [Jesus] prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me”. It’s a classic that bears reading today in our 21st Century. It deals with a travelling pilgrim in Russia, going about the land in his quest for a closer walk with God. The people he met and the situations he encountered pattern the road trip call the Christian journey. In fact, our hero is on one serious road trip.
The above prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me” may appear to be simplistic to the casual reader, but is very powerful. It focuses one on Christ as Lord and as the source of all he/she needs and establishes who one is in relationship with God (through Christ). The other part shows us that our shit does stink (collectively and individually) and we need that Divine mercy in our day to day. We need Jesus to have mercy and invite Him into our mess and our needs-not as groveling worms, but as friends who need someone who can work with us and through us. In turn, taking us to a higher level (transcendence).
The past Saturday I was at our library trying to find books on the inner life (of Christianity); things like contemplation, meditation, mysticism, intimacy with God, “inner” prayer - all that “deep” stuff. I was only able to glean 3 books including the one above to check out. Most of the other material was either on theology, or was on the “outer” aspects of x-tianity (how to have a better……).
I’m also reading a online piece called, “Intimacy with God” written by Derek Flood, on his site “The Rebel God” (http://sharktacos.com/God/index.shtml), which is very captivating and eye-opening. One thing Derek mentioned in his piece’s intro is that the most recent literature on the subject were at least 50 years old.
To me those last two paragraphs are a scary indictment of brand x-tianity. Have we become so “outwardly-directed” that we’ve forgotten the “inner man” which the Apostle James spoke of in his writings (ref James 4:7)? Are we so “performance driven” in our religious life that our relationship with God (on an intimate level through Christ) is starving to death?
Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us!
Peace.
Yes, it’s scary, isn’t it? Mesuspects there is a wealth of stuff waiting for us to feast on … and none of it written before the 1950s. Weird. What a weird weird weird bloody weird time we live in.
Weird
Amen Sue!
Especially when you have “motivational” celebrity preachers like Joel Osteen & T.D. Jakes bestsellers becoming the new “gospel”.
Like I said, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us!”
Peace.
It is a very powerful and simple Prayer. In Brother Lawrence’s book Practicing the presence of God. He says that we must speak to God simply and frankly. I do believe that it is most important to God to God in this manor. How could he be impressed by our “well thought out arguments or ideas?” Jesus before he went to the cross knowing the pain and suffering that was ahead of him he prayed like this in “Luke 22:41-43 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
Some times I feel most time simplicity is best.
Glad to see a fellow Christian practicing this simple, beautiful and powerful prayer.
blessing,
Luke
Amen Luke!
I just read a printout of “Practicing” and I see the simplicity in being in God’s presence. Brother Lawrence was way ahead of the curve.
Sadly, we have become so “process”-oriented with our many routines (not Bible-based) that we’re turning off many Christians who want to grow closer to God; and we’re turning off many who don’t know Christ as well.
Like I said in my post, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us!
Peace.
Well Said!
I love Brother Lawrence he is the cornerstone of my mystic belief structure. That was the book that started this whole journey for me I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for the nod to my blog!
I hope you will write something about Dark night of the soul. I have not yet reed it but the Carmelites seem to have had some great mystics.
the comment Lord Jesus Christ, have have mercy on us! rings so true in this day and age.
peace.
In regrads to something that was stated about the prayer, “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me”……What else is grace all about? “It is the kindness of God (Jesus Christ) that brings a man to repentance”-Romans 2:4. And like Ronco, there’s more, so much more….Christ not only became sin on the cross, for us, but he also became what we were, evil and without hope in order that we would become as He is…..1 John 14:17&18. As He is (in heaven) so are we in this world….Check it out for yourselves…It’s all there in black and white.
Amen Ghostt,
The coolest thing about Jesus is that yes, he became all that, but what’s even cooler is that he can RELATE to us. Being that he became like us, he was able to meet us at our need and in our mess.
And He’s still meeting us today!
Peace!
Somehow i missed the point. Probably lost in translation
Anyway … nice blog to visit.
cheers, Anthropophagy.