Real presence makes a real difference
Philip Carter
It is sacrifice, not in the sense of a bribe to persuade a hostile deity to overlook our failings, but in the sense of something given up, handed over, so that a mutual relationship may be both affirmed and renewed. Being in the Church is being in the middle of this sacrificial action.
Rowan Williams
Self-emptying presence is costly and sacrificial. Handing over or giving up affirms and renews a mutual relationship. What happens is that something is revealed, something that is already the case: the ‘hidden wholeness’, the communio which is God – for God is the community-of-love, the Trinity – both the source and destiny of all human life.
By being present to another person, really present,
we take part in that sacrificial, self-emptying of God-in–Christ.
In your intercessions – praying for others –
begin by imagining this ‘hidden wholeness’ which you already share with those for whom you pray.
God is already intimately and immediately,
profoundly and deeply present to the ones you pray for, and to yourself.
Ісусе, Ісусе, сину Божий, помилуй, помилуй нас.
Transliteration: Isuse, Isuse, Synu Bozhyy, pomyluy, pomyluy nas.
English translation: Jesus, Jesus, Son of God, have mercy, have mercy on us.
For a printable PDF of the text of this meditation please click on the link below.
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Thank you for the Jesus Prayer in Ukrainian.