Those who choose to exclude someone from their prayers risk offering the vain purity of their prayer, which may well be rejected, like the sacrifice of Cain (Gen. 4:5). For our God is love (I Jn. 4:8), according to St. John the Divine. And who dares to limit the philanthropic love of God?

In like manner, the Holy Bishop Nicholai of Zhicha was heard, by Fr. Miodrag Djurich, praying that the Lord give us as much suffering as we can endure, for when it passes, as with a woman in labor, so does the agony for a new life is born (Jn. 16:21). However, he hastened to add, preserve us from scandal, which, even when it passes, endures in its agony!

Let us pray as did Christ, who first prayed for those whom His Father gave him. Thereafter, pray as He prayed for all and in all, that they may be one (Jn. 17:9, 20-23)!

+Irinej