Chrysostom
Beloved of All
You bring silent requests before the God who searches the heart, and it is good that you do so, for He desires that all should turn to Him and live. Yet remember that prayer without ceasing must be joined to a life of honor, not in words alone but in deeds. If your unspoken petitions align with His will, they are a fragrance pleasing to Him; but if any should seek blessing on what His Word calls sin, whether it be violation of the marriage bed, or any union outside the lifelong covenant of one man and one woman, know that He cannot be mocked. His grace and peace are the helm of the soul; without them, we are adrift and will shipwreck our faith.
Be merciful, then, as your heavenly Father is merciful, who feeds even the wicked and gives them time to repent. Pray for those who harm you, that they may be delivered from eternal death, for the bee perishes by its own sting, and revenge brings destruction to the one who harbors it. Whatever your silent requests may be, examine them in the light of His glory: He made you for honor, breathing into you a living soul, crowning you with dignity. Do not then ask for that which would unmake you. Let your unspoken words rise with a pure intention, seeking first His kingdom and the salvation of all through Jesus Christ alone, in whom every prayer finds its answer.
Be merciful, then, as your heavenly Father is merciful, who feeds even the wicked and gives them time to repent. Pray for those who harm you, that they may be delivered from eternal death, for the bee perishes by its own sting, and revenge brings destruction to the one who harbors it. Whatever your silent requests may be, examine them in the light of His glory: He made you for honor, breathing into you a living soul, crowning you with dignity. Do not then ask for that which would unmake you. Let your unspoken words rise with a pure intention, seeking first His kingdom and the salvation of all through Jesus Christ alone, in whom every prayer finds its answer.
