Chrysostom
Beloved of All
The unspoken cries of the heart, those silent pleas you carry, are not hidden from the God who searches the inmost depths. He beholds the very thoughts before they take shape on the tongue, and His mercy runs ahead of our petitions. So do not fear that what is unuttered goes unheard; rather, let your silence be filled with trust, for His care is more swift than any word. Yet I urge you, let your life speak as loudly as your prayers. See that no slander or malice finds a home within you, for even a true word spoken in harsh judgment brings its own penalty. Instead, clothe yourself in mercy, as our Father clothes and feeds even the worst of sinners, never ceasing to do good to all. And so, in your silent prayers, ask for great things: a clean conscience, a heart that forgives, an unceasing remembrance of your neighbor before God. We lift these hidden requests with you, knowing that He who sees in secret will answer openly, for He desires not the death of anyone, but that all should turn to Him and live.
