Throughout the month of October I have been attending a wonderful lecture series organized by Holy Cross Orthodox Church here in Williamsport. I’ve never really been exposed to the Orthodox expression of faith before but have always been an admirer of it’s long rich tradition. Interestingly, I just finished reading Scott McKnight’s blog post on  the Jesus Prayer as used by the Orthodox faithful, and it reminded me of a story that Father John Oliver told at one of the lectures I attended.

A man named Joseph visited his priest one day–he had come to ask for help. Joseph indicated that a friend in his life had built up walls against him and no matter what he tried or said, he could not communicate his true feelings to this friend. His friend had completely shut him out of her life and wanted nothing to do with him. Joseph’s priest knew of an old Orthodox hermit who lived high in the mountains of their homeland, Romania. It was said that this hermit was clairvoyant and possessed miraculous powers. After much debate and struggle, Joseph finally decided that the hermit was his only hope.

Joseph climbed high into the mountains looking for the hermit, and just when he thought all hope was lost and it was time to turn around and go home, he found the hermit’s cabin. The hermit invited him in, and after recounting his long story about his friend whom he could not reach, Joseph was surprised and somewhat distraught by the hermits short and seemingly disingenuous response. Joseph had just finished pouring his heart out when the hermit looked kindly at Joseph and said, “say the Jesus Prayer 100 times a day.” After saying this the hermit dismissively sent Joseph on his way. Joseph expected the hermit to at least pray for his friend in hopes that his friend would come to see how stubborn and hard hearted she had become. Nevertheless, Joseph decided to take the hermit’s advice and to say 100 times daily, the Jesus Prayer, which goes like this:

Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Joseph was devout with his praying, and he said the Jesus Prayer 100 times a day just as the hermit had instructed. But as time went by, Joseph noticed that no matter how many times a day he prayed the prayer, his friend did not change. In fact, she remained exactly the same. Joseph could not comprehend this, but he continued to faithfully recite the little prayer 100 times a day. Much time passed and although Joseph’s friend did not change at all, he began to notice that he was the one that was changing. God was shaping him into a more prayerful, sensitive and caring individual, an individual who his friend could more easily talk to and confide in. Needless to say, their relationship began to heal and be restored.

I just thought this was a great little story that should remind us that change really does start from within and work its way out.

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