September 2, 2009 + Praying for the Sake of the Other

by Fr. Jason Delvitto
from The Word, March 2001

Intercessory prayer “in behalf of all and for all” is a deliberate and decisive act of those individuals who have been baptized into Christ and who present themselves before God in a spirit of love, compassion and confidence in God’s divine mercy for the sake of the other. It is the fervent prayer that we offer to God for the sake of all in this world, especially those within the community of the Church, both the living and those who have fallen asleep in Christ. Our practice of praying for those who have died is deeply rooted in the ecclesial consciousness of the faithful as the supreme act of love, for in Christ there is no death. It is the Lord Jesus Christ himself and the Holy Spirit of God who pray within us. — Christ is the intercessor and those who interiorize him intercede before God as he intercedes for us.

Intercessory prayer is ultimately an expression of love and compassion for all that exists.

We may, at this point, consider what is accomplished or rather realized through the act of intercessory prayer. First of all, when we pray on behalf of others, both those who are alive and who are fallen asleep, we acknowledge ourselves as creatures of God and that he is the source and goal of all existence. Our lives depend upon God and with this realization, we firmly believe and affirm that it is only through him and by his will that what and who we pray for we place in his loving care and providence. Secondly, through the act of intercessory prayer, we acknowledge and participate in a Godly fellowship with the Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, along with the countless saints, martyrs and heavenly hosts who glorify God and who continually pray on our behalf in the heavenly kingdom. Our heavenly citizenship is confirmed and realized as we pray in the company of the saints. Thirdly, our bond of love is strengthened and our solidarity in the Spirit celebrated with our brethren of faith within the life of the Church as taught to us by St. John of Kronsdadt: “... we are all children of the Heavenly Father. When you pray, endeavor to pray more for others than for yourself alone, and during prayer represent vividly to yourself all men as forming one body with yourself, and each separately as the Body of Christ, for we are members one of another. Pray for all as you would pray for yourself, with the same sincerity and fervor; look upon their infirmities and sicknesses as your own, their spiritual ignorance, their sins and lusts, as your own, their temptations, misfortunes and manifold afflictions as your own. Such prayer will beaccepted with great favor by the heavenly Father, the most gracious, common Father of all, whose boundless love embraces and preserves all creatures” (The Spiritual Counsels of St. John of Kronsdadt, SVS Press, reprinted 1981, p. 14). Through the loving act of intercessory prayer, St. John of Kronsdadt tells us that our brother’s life becomes our own. We take on a Godly responsibility for the sake of the lives of our brethren being responsible to them as fellow servants of God. As we know in the evangelical imperative of Orthodox spirituality, our fervent prayer is brought to fruition through the practice of love and mercy in the name of Christ Jesus (Matthew 25). Fourthly, in a society plagued by self-centeredness and excessive ego gratification, the act of intercessory prayer draws us out of ourselves to the other; the other being God and our neighbor. Intercessory prayer is a selfless act on our part although we do receive benefits from such prayer – all prayer done in a spirit of faith and love. Finally, when we offer intercessory prayer, we are actualizing the baptismal grace we have all received from God and the evangelical command to love one another. Prayer is an act of love and it is through prayer and a prayerful life in word and deed that God is glorified. So the next time that you offer prayers for the sake of the other, either in your personal prayers or assembled as the Body of Christ through the Liturgy, know that your prayers resound with the prayers of countless saints and holy people of God in the heavens and on the earth praising and glorifying the Author of life.

***

Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos - September 8

Troparion of the Mother of God, Tone 4

Thy Nativity, O Mother of God, has brought joy to all the world; for from thee arose the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God, Who, having dissolved the curse, has given His blessing, and having abolished death, has granted us life eternal.

Kontakion of the Mother of God, Tone 4

Joachim and Anna were freed from the reproach of childlessness and Adam and Eve from the corruption of death, O Immaculate One, by thy holy nativity. And thy people, redeemed from the guilt of sin, celebrate thy birth by crying to thee: The barren woman gives birth to the Mother of God and the nurse of our life.