Elder Joseph (1897-1959) was a Greek monk and spiritual father to the small monastic community of Little Saint Anne's, Mount Athos. There are many books about his life and spiritual teaching, but here is a reflection he offered about intercessory prayer for the world and its power to call forth love. Perhaps you feel powerless before the many troubles and dangers of the world. Every Thursday the post here offers intercessions that may be used in anticipation of Sunday Mass. Of course, they may be prayed any time.
Elder Joseph used to tell us that the experience of love for one's neighbor is revealed to the person who prays in truth, and more specifically, "When grace is operative in the soul to someone who is praying, then he is flooded with the love of God, so that he can no longer bear what he experiences. Afterwards, this love turns towards the world and humankind, whom he comes to love so much that he seeks to take upon himself the whole of human pain and misfortune so that everyone else might be freed from it. In general, he suffers with every grief and misery, and even for the animals, so that he weeps when he thinks that they are suffering. These are properties of love, but it is prayer that activates them and calls them forth. This is why those who are advanced in prayer do not cease to pray for the world. To them belongs even the continuation of life, however strange and audacious this may seem. And you should know that, if such people disappear, then the end of this world will come." Recollection of Elder Joseph of Vatopedi Monastery
In the world today it wouldn't be surprising to hear someone object, even among Catholics: "Oh, this monk is just too much; so extreme - taking upon himself the whole of human pain and misfortune, suffering with every grief and misery even for animals, keeping the world in existence if intercession disappeared." But I would add, the whole world is a place of extremes.
- An individual might be extremely rude, dishonest or unkind.
- The Weather Channel talks about extreme weather.
- We see extremes in sexy entertainment. Too much!
- There are athletes, executive or "stars" who are paid extremely high salaries.
- We might say that an out-of-control persona is extreme.
- We might think taxes or a workman's bid to be extreme.
- Maybe we know someone who is extremely funny.
But why are all these extremes acceptable or "just the way it is," but a monk's insights about the depth of love intercessory prayer can elicit from a human heart - that's naive, unrealistic, extreme?
