"You will be a missionary. Let your first rule of missionary work be – praying to God for the apostates."
St Nicolai Velimirovich, Missionary Letters, Part 1, Letter 4
We had spoken about the 1st Matinal Resurrectional Gospel yesterday in the adult school. The so called "Great Commission" was discussed, and the difference in how Protestants and Orthodox approach, understand and fulfil the Lord's command: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Mat 28:19-20 )
Surely St Nicolai's admonition is part of that difference. So, also, is the dogma that the solitary monk, who prays for the whole world with love that we cannot imagine, because we have not walked the road of purification that gives birth to such love, is a great missionary. Our missionary work, or put in another, more direct way, all of our life, must begin with prayer.
