II. CHRISTIAN RELIGION IN EVERYDAY LIFE

(This text is taken from the book JESUS THE CHRIST by
Vandana Mataji and published by Gujarat Sahitya Prakash ,
Post Box 70, Anand 388 001, India)

I. Christian Prayer and Worship

There are two type of prayer – as in all religions:

a) PERSONAL PRAYER

The highest type of personal prayer is contemplative silence, inner worship of the indwelling God. Jesus himself practised what he taught. He often went away alone into solitude in the mountains or the desert place and invited his disciples sometimes to be alone with him: “Come apart and rest awhile:.”

“His reputation continued to grow, and large crowds would gather to hear him and to

have their sicknesses cured, but he would always go off to some place where he could be alone and pray” (Lk.5.15-16).

“When you pray”, he taught, “go to your private room and when you have shut your door pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.” He told them not to imitate the hypocrites and pray to be seen by people, nor “babble as the pagans do, for they think that by many words they will make themselves heard” ( Mt. 6. 6-7).

But before one can reach this silence in prayer, one is taught to use vocal prayer, either a set formula or spontaneous prayers as they well up from one’s heart. The child is taught by its parents if they are truly Christian, to treat Jesus as a friend from the beginning, a friend who is always present, caring, never failing, ready to listen and to help.

As a sample of vocal prayer, when Jesus was asked by his disciples, “Lord, teach us to pray”, he gave them the well known prayer: “Our Father..” which has been likened by some to a Mantra in the Bible.

“Our Father in Heaven, Holy be your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven, Give us this day our daily bread, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us, do not bring us to the test, but deliver us from evil.”

Meditation (In Western Christianity the word “contemplation” is generally used for what is called “meditation” in Hindus or Buddhist tradition, meaning silent, thoughtless sitting before the Lord. The Word “meditation is used in the sense of discursive prayer and reflection, or imaginative contemplation of mysteries in the life of Christ.) in the sense on reading or listening to a Word of God (shravanam), then reflecting on it (mananam) is practised by more mature Christians, thus getting to know the Bible and especially the life, spirit and words of Jesus in the Gospels. This reflection should then lead to silent communing of the spirit with God (like nididhyasanam) : sometimes a word (like a Mahavakya) remaining as leitmotif during the entire day.

Christians also use short prayers known as ejaculation or aspirations – rather like the Japa Yoga (except that unlike the guru-mantra it can vary from day to day according to one’s need… e.g. ‘Abba, Father’, ‘Lord, increase my faith’, ‘Jesus, I love you – I put my trust in you’, ‘Jesus mercy – Mary, help.’ These short shafts from the heart constantly repeated throughout the day can help to keep one close to the Lord.