The Theology of Worship

St Theophan the Recluse taught “The principal thing (about worship) is to stand before God with the mind in the heart, and to go on standing before Him unceasingly day and night, until the end of life”.  Many theologians teach ‘Prayer is relationship’, and the statement of Theophan “To stand before God” implies that worship is an encounter, a meeting between two persons, a relationship. 

St Paul taught earlier in his letter to the Thessalonians - “Pray without ceasing” (1Thes 5:17)  Our entire lifestyle should be one in relationship with God so that we are able to “stand before God … until the end of life”.

To pray is not necessarily to ask God for something; it need not even be to employ words, for often the deepest and most powerful of all prayer is simply to wait upon God in silence.  He knows our heart.

How do you move closer to praying always?  A good way to start is in the Adoration Chapel.  By sitting silently in the True Presence of God; ask the Holy Spirit to help you put your mind in your heart.  By putting mind in heart you enter a different level of relationship with almighty God that will lead to a life of praying without ceasing.

Don’t expect immediate results.  God works on us in His time and in His way.  I can promise that if you are sincere and persistent in your request, you will be successful in improving your relationship with God and your ability to pray without ceasing. 

See you in the chapel.