“Why does this tiny nightingale produce these sounds? ...How marvelously you [nightingale] unceasingly carry on your duty, your prayer to God! ...I regarded all of them as angels of God, little birds that glorified God the Creator of all and no one heard them.

They weren't interested in being heard, but there in solitude, peace, the wilderness, in silence, they longed to be heard, but by whom? None other than by the Maker of everything- by Him who gave them life and breath and voice.”

  - St Porphyrios, Wounded By Love, pg 32. Reflection:

Saint Porphyrios reminds us to see God’s fingerprint in all of His creation. Any time we hear birds chirping, they are glorifying God(1) and their song is their prayer(2). The birds have a natural inclination to offer their beautiful songs without thinking about who hears them, other than the Creator Himself. We hear the beauty of God’s handiwork in their voices: gentle reminders of Christ and His love. Our ‘song’ is our way of life, our very being, our presence before God and our presence in the lives of others.  When other people see and hear us, do they see Christ and hear His love? It is not always easy for us to offer praise and gratitude to God or sacrifice for others without expectations of receiving something in return, be it public praise or good favor. However, when we pray or sacrifice for others with humility, without expectations or audiences, it allows us to become like the birds and praise God in our moments of solitude, peace, and silence. “We were given thought, so that we might know Christ; desire, that we might run to Him. We have memory, to bring Him to mind.”(3) Every part of our being is created to bring us closer to Christ. Made in God’s Image and Likeness, becoming Christ-like is how we find what it means to be truly human. When we strive to be in perfect communion with God, our ‘song’ of gratitude is heard, and our presence is felt in the world - as beacons of Christ’s presence and conduits of His love. References: 1) Philippians 4:4-8 “ Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is near. In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 2) Psalm 103 (From Vespers) “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!...” 3) St Nicholas Cabasilas. Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos, The Science of Spiritual Medicine, pg 38.

"Think of Hannah’s example...she brought Samuel, her only son, to the temple, when he was only an infant! Who among you would not rather have a son like Samuel than one who became a king of the whole world ten thousand times over?  'It is impossible,’ you say, ‘for my son ever to become great as he.’ Why is it impossible? Because you don’t really want it; you won't entrust him to the One who is able to make him great. And who is that? God.” 

                                                                    - St John Chrysostom, On Marriage and Family Life, pg 68.

Reflection: 

St John Chrysostom(1) is addressing parents here, regarding the raising of children - referencing the Old Testament - Book of Samuel the Prophet(2).  However, this applies to all of us, in every aspect of our lives. What part of our lives do we hesitate to give to God? What is holding us back? 

If we want something to be the greatest it can be, at its fullest potential (i.e. a decision, a school or career choice, a relationship with: a future spouse, spouse, family member, friend, coworker, or ‘enemy’) we must invite God into that part of our life first so He can guide us on the right path. When faced with any given situation, we can only think of finite possibilities. With God, the possibilities are infinite. Infinite possibilities, can also feel like infinite uncertainties. We may struggle to give our lives fully to God because we do not know the precise outcome(s) and we need to feel like we are in ‘control’.  Yet, this is where the infinite potential is realized in our lives when we involve God in each and every way. The same goes for entrusting our children to the Lord as St. John Chrysostom describes. The easiest way we can do this is to give them the gift of the Faith by being a living example of an Orthodox Christian. To help them establish roots so as they grow they will instinctively turn to God throughout their lives and be open to God’s will as they mature in His Holy Spirit. If we are dedicating ourselves, and our children through our example, to our Faith by prioritizing and matching the rhythm of our lives to the rhythm of the life of the Church (the services, sacraments, and ministries) it becomes easier(3) to include God in all of our decisions, small and large, in situations positive or negative. As we contemplate how to involve God in every aspect of our lives, we pray: “Let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.”(4) References: 1) Read More About St John Chrysostom Here 2) Read More About Prophet Samuel Here 3) Matthew 11:28-30: "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Jesus reaches out to us lending His help constantly, His mercy, we must reach back. 4) From the Divine Liturgy before the Lord’s Prayer Divine Liturgy Text

How does one acquire patience?

“Patience has its base in love. “Love...bears all things.” says the Apostle (1 Cor. 13:7)(1).

In order to endure the other, you must love him/her, feel their pain.

If you do not feel the pain of the other person, you become tired of him/her.”(2)
- Saint Paisios the Athonite

Reflection:
Patience is rooted in love. “Love one another as I have loved you.” (John 13:34) We must sacrifice ourselves for others as Christ sacrificed Himself for us. Patience with someone requires a loving sacrifice: of our time, of our control over things, trusting it to God’s Will.

St Paisios suggests that in order to be patient with someone else, we must feel their pain, truly embrace their pain as if it were our own - establishing that connection with them. That is loving one’s neighbor. How could we lose patience if we are truly living in that kind of empathy(3)? Think of how different one may react to everything, approaching each person like this.

God became human and suffered as we do while still being God. That is empathy beyond empathy. That is God’s love for us. We are called to follow Christ’s example and in heartfelt prayer, live in empathy of others - to the point where we feel their pain as our own, and pray from that place of true empathy deep in our hearts - then our prayer is truly “of the heart”, we are truly patient, and give Christ-like love.

This kind of patience is a gift from God that we receive when we set aside our ego to make room for God to work in us. We need God’s help.

We begin acquiring this gift of patience by praying, thinking, speaking, and acting from that deep place in our own hearts - feeling their pain as our own, and acting in Christ-like love, beseeching God’s mercy upon them.

References:
1) 1 Corinthians 13:2-8 “Love is patient and is kind; love does not envy. Love does not brag, is not proud, does not behave itself inappropriately, does not seek its own way, is not irritable, does not keep a record of wrongs; doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
2) Read More About Saint Paisios Here - Spiritual Counsels Volume V. Passions and Virtues, pg 292.
3) Empathy vs Sympathy - YouTube Video on Empathy vs Sympathy

"Before we pray, the soul must prepare itself with prayer. Prayer for Prayer. Listen to the prayer the priest recites silently in the Divine Liturgy as the Epistle is being read:

‘Shine in our hearts, O Loving Master, the pure light of Your Divine Knowledge and open the eyes of our minds to the proclamations of Your Gospel. Instill within us fear of your blessed commandments, so that trampling down all desires of the flesh, we may lead a spiritual manner of living, both thinking and doing the things which are pleasing to You.

For You are the Illumination of our souls and bodies O Christ our God and to You we ascribe glory, together with your Father Who is without beginning and Your All-Holy, Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages, Amen.’" -St Porphyrios (20th Cent) Wounded by Love, Pages 113-114. 

Reflection: 
This suggestion by Saint Porphyrios(1) is not a rule, but a point worth reflecting upon: the prayer read by the priest(2), can be used as preparation for us to enter into a proper atmosphere for our personal prayer (also to read Scripture). 

One can see St Porphyrios’ point when we think about how, before we begin to pray, oftentimes we say: “Glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Now and forever and unto the ages of ages, Amen.” - That is a prayer on its own, to begin praying too. We glorify God and affirm our belief in the One Triune God, before saying our prayer.

We ask God to “shine in our hearts” the “pure light of Your Divine Knowledge” so that God will have His Holy Spirit illumine the eyes of our souls to see, not simply with human eyes/logic, but we ask God to grant us His Grace to see the world, other people, and situations as Christ sees them - with Divine love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control(3). But our ability to live this way(4) is limited as human beings, unless we ceaselessly call upon God to grant us His Grace by the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

In order to truly make progress in life, to become our truest self, to see everyone and everything through Christ’s eyes with Divine Love and discernment - we must pray with a disposition of love, humility, and patience. Trust in God completely to “complete what is lacking”(5) by offering our best efforts, while having the humility to allow God to dwell and work within us, cultivating His Holy Spirit. Asking “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me.”

Let us choose to allow the Holy Spirit to fill us, by putting away our ego, through our humility, trust in God, we ask that He will reveal Christ within our hearts. So that in and through our hearts, He will reveal Christ unto everyone around us through the very essence of our being and way of life. Let us remember to ask for God’s help to pray: “Prayer for Prayer”.  

Reference(s): 

1) 20th Cent, Read More about St Porphyrios Here

2) Text of the Divine Liturgy

3) Galatians 5:22-23 (Fruits of the Holy Spirit)  

4) Galatians 5:22-23 (Fruits of the Holy Spirit)   

5)  Prayer said by the Bishop while Ordaining a Deacon to Priest, “The Divine Grace, which always heals that which is infirm and completes that which is lacking, ordains the most devout Deacon (name) to the office of the Priest…”