An Ancient, Apt, Pithy, and Profound Penitential Prayer

An Ancient, Apt, Pithy, and Profound Penitential Prayer

One of the shortest prayers in the Bible is the one uttered by the penitent publican in the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, which is recorded in Luke 18:9–14:

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

—Luke 18:13 (AV/KJV)

This short prayer is a part of the origin of one of the most famous Christian prayers which is not in the Bible: a prayer called the Jesus Prayer.

Here are two common English versions of it:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.

This Wikipedia article "Jesus Prayer" has a section entitled "Origins", which begins with these two paragraphs:

The prayer's origin is the Egyptian desert, which was settled by the monastic Desert Fathers and Desert Mothers in the 5th century.[14] It was found inscribed in the ruins of a cell from that period in the Egyptian desert.[15]

A formula similar to the standard form of the Jesus Prayer is found in a letter attributed to John Chrysostom, who died in AD 407. This "Letter to an Abbot" speaks of "Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy" and "Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on us" being used as ceaseless prayer.[16] Ammonas of Egypt advised another monk to "always keep in your heart the words of the Publican" (God, be merciful to me a sinner, Luke 18:13), while Macarius of Egypt taught Evagrius Ponticus to say with each breath "Lord Jesus, have mercy on me. I bless you, my Lord Jesus", or when he is distressed, "My Lord Jesus, help me".[17][18]

The first section of the article says the following:

Though identified more closely with Eastern Christianity, the prayer is found in Western Christianity in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.[5] It is also used in conjunction with the innovation of Anglican prayer beads.[6] The prayer has been widely taught and discussed throughout the history of the Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Lutheran Churches and Eastern Catholic Churches.

This prayer deserves to be known and prayed in all churches around the world.

Despite its brevity, whole books have been written about this ancient, apt, pithy, profound penitential prayer. So have other articles, some of which can be easily found and are freely accessible on the Internet. (At the end of this article and its questions for consideration is a list of some of them. They were written from the perspectives of a variety of Christian traditions.)

The Jesus Prayer is a prayer which is apt for all times, all places, and all people. In response to the Apostle Paul's admonition to "Pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17 (AV/KJV)), some people pray it ceaselessly.

For Christians who follow a liturgical calendar, it is especially apt to pray it during the two penitential seasons of the year: Advent and Lent. I recommend praying it as a spiritual discipline at least once a day, if not more.

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

—Psalm 55:17 (AV/KJV)

Three other ideas for praying this prayer:

1. In addition to praying it for oneself, pray a version of it for a group of people to which one belongs, such as a family or a church

2. Pray a version of it with another person, such as one's spouse

3. Pray a version of it corporately with other Christians

For example, whether one prays alone, or with another, or corporately, one could pray: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us, sinners".

One could say of the Jesus Prayer what the Lord Jesus said of the publican's prayer:

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

—Luke 18:14 (AV/KJV)

May the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, have mercy on us, sinners, and justify us, and exalt all who pray the Jesus Prayer—and, in turn, may we who pray it obey Him, justify Him, and exalt Him, who abased Himself so that we could be blessed with His mercy, justification, and exaltation. Amen.

Questions for consideration

1. What do you think about the Jesus Prayer?

2. Would you like to learn more about this prayer? If so, why? If not, why not?

3. Would you like to pray this prayer? If so, why? If not, why not?

4. Would you like to pray this prayer as a spiritual discipline, such as in observance of Advent or Lent? If so, why? If not, why not?

5. Would you like to pray a version of this prayer for a group to which you belong? If so, why? If not, why not?

6. Would you like to pray a version of this prayer with another person? If so, why? If not, why not?

7. Would you like to pray a version of this prayer corporately? If so, why? If not, why not?

Some articles about the Jesus Prayer written from the perspectives of a variety of Christian traditions

The Jesus Prayer

By Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko (written from an Eastern Orthodox perspective)

This is an excerpt from the chapter "Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving" of the book Spirituality, which is the fourth volume of the series The Orthodox Faith: An Elementary Handbook on the Orthodox Church, by Fr. Thomas Hopko (Orthodox Church in America, St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1972–1976 (revised 2016)

https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/spirituality/prayer-fasting-and-almsgiving/the-jesus-prayer

Saying the Jesus Prayer

By Dr. Albert S. Rossi (written from an Eastern Orthodox perspective)

1 March, 2013

https://www.svots.edu/saying-jesus-prayer

The Jesus Prayer

By Fr. Steven Peter Tsichlis (written from a Greek Orthodox perspective)

3 September, 1985

https://www.goarch.org/-/the-jesus-prayer

Jesus: The Shortest, Simplest, and Most Powerful Prayer in the World

By Peter Kreeft (written from a Catholic perspective)

This is the chapter 9 of the book Prayer for Beginners, by Peter Kreeft (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2000)