Prayer has always been tough.
Thursday, March 29th, 2007Continuing my reading of the Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Benedicta Ward, trans; published by Cistercian Publications, 1975).
This is from Abba Agathon, one of the early monks at the community of Scetis.
The brethren also asked him, “Amongst all good works, which is the virtue which requires the greatest effort?” He answered, “Forgive me, but I think there is no labour greater than that of prayer to God. For every time a man wants to pray, his enemies, the demons, want to prevent him, for they know that it is only by turning him from prayer that they can hinder his journey. Whatever good work a man undertakes, if he preseveres in it, he will attain rest. But prayer is warfare to the last breath.” [Agathon, #9, p21f]
So I am not alone in the struggles with prayer, nor will it really get much easier. That is both comforting and not. Prayer is the only way to make the journey and prayer is always an uphill battle.
