Chrism

Depth in Prayer

The length of the prayer is not as important as the depth of feelings in it. Pray out of the depth: the depth of humility, contrition, feeling of remorse and shame. Deep prayer is a prayer which has a feeling of relation with God, a prayer with passion, understanding, contemplation, concentration, warmth, love, faith, confidence and hope. St Paul said: “I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue” (1 Cor 14:19)

Depth In Giving

Give with all your heart. For example in the offering of Isaac, Abraham was in the depth of giving. He was willing to give his only son because he loved God. Give tithes while you are in poverty and need. Give your time to service when you are busy. Donate and lend as much as you can. Be generous always and with everyone.

Depth in Service

Serve whoever you meet and attract them to the love of God. Bring new members to church. Serve solving family problems so that peace may come to their household. The deep word can bear much fruit. A person says a word to you which touches your heart and never leaves your mind, walks with you, accompanies you in your sleep and waking, It does much to you. It is a word which came out of the depth and reached the depth.

Depth in Worship

Fast with spiritual depth, with your body and combined with contrition, repentance, submission and spiritual practices. Let your reading also be with depth, as it is not the amount of chapters your read that matters, but the effect such reading leaves you with.

Depth of Repentance

Those whose repentance does not include the feelings of contrition, remorse and unworthiness, they have no depth in their repentance, and will easily go back to sin. Likewise, those who in their repentance, hasten to the life of joy, before their repentance fully develops and bears fruit.

Depth of Faith

“All things are possible to him who believes ” (Mk 9:23). Deep faith does not doubt or fear but it can move the mountains. 

Depth of Friendship and Love

The deepest love is the one that gives, even itself. As the love of God on the Cross: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…” (Jn 3:16). 

Depth of Personality

A deep personality has depth in thinking, intelligence and understanding. Such person enjoys broad thinking capacity which includes everything. If he discusses a subject, he considers all angles, and takes into account all consequences and reactions. When such a person speaks, he speaks with depth.

– Contemplations from “The Spiritual Man” by Pope Shenouda III, his blessings be with us.