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Be not forgetful of prayer. Every time you pray, if your prayer is sincere, there will be new feeling and new meaning in it that will give you fresh courage, and you will understand that prayer is an education.
Remember too, every day and whenever you can, to repeat to yourself, “Lord, have mercy on all who appear before you today.” For every hour and every moment thousands of people leave life on this earth, and their souls appear before God. And how many of them depart in solitude, unknown, sad, and dejected, so no one mourns for them or even knows whether they have lived or not. And behold, from the other end of the earth perhaps, your prayer for their rest will rise up to God, though you knew them not nor they you. How touching it must be to a soul standing in dread before the Lord to feel at that instant that for him too there is one to pray, that there is someone left on earth to love him. And God will look on you both more graciously, for if you have had so much pity on him, how much more will he have pity who is infinitely more loving and merciful than you. And he will forgive him for your sake.
Have no fear of people’s sin. Love a man even in his sin, for that is the semblance of divine love and is the highest love on earth. Love all God’s creation, the whole and every grain of sand in it. Love every leaf, every ray of God’s light. Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love.
Love the animals – God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled. Do not trouble them – don’t harass them, don’t deprive them of their happiness, don’t work against God’s intent. Do not pride yourself on superiority to the animals; they are without sin, while you with your greatness defile the earth by your appearance on it and leave the traces of your foulness after you – alas, it is true of almost every one of us!
Love children especially, for they too are sinless like the angels; they live to soften and purify our hearts and, as it were, to guide us. Woe to him who offends a child!…
At some thoughts one stands perplexed, especially at the sight of people’s sin, and asks oneself whether one should use force or love and humility. Always decide to use humble love. If you resolve on that once and for all, you may subdue the whole world. Loving humility is marvelously strong, the strongest of all things, and there is nothing else like it.
From The Gospel in Dostoyevsky: Selections from His Works.
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Merhawit Girmay
What a humble, humble man and a beautiful essay. I'm deeply moved and convicted. He states "Have no fear of people’s sin. Love a man even in his sin, for that is the semblance of divine love and is the highest love on earth." To love in this way, this divine love, can only be possible by the Spirit of God. In which a heart that is contrite, dependent on God through prayer --repentant, serves as a cleared highway for passage. I'm reminded of the exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus in which our Lord states, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again (born from above) he cannot see the kingdom of God."
coby tynsky
well, its not for my sake that the dead is forgiven, but jesus'
Rev Bruce Wright
Love is truly the strongest. I listen to a song recently that said, what would love do? I struggle as a minister/activist to love those in power and the Police because of so many black and brown peoples lives taken by Police Brutality and I have been directly involved in defending Poor People of all races from the brutality of the Police state. Please pray for me.
G. Donald Kaye
The contemporary civilization in which we live is so confounded with evil and destruction, there seems to be little or nothing a humble human being can actually "do" worldwide to inure against what seems to be this tidal wave of opposing elements except pray. Do whatever you can where ever you happen to be. Be kind, just and , at least, understanding. Pray as if it is to be your last moment, your final will and testament.
Theresa
Yes, I will pray for people who do harm in the world to practice forgiveness. Mr. Dostoyevsky has a rich prose in reminding us. As people we do leave a certain defileness on this earth as it's part of our human nature. To err is human and to forgive is divine.
Temba Mapani
One can tell that Mr Dostoyevsky is a man who thinks and acts out of love. However, that love should realise we do all according to the Word of God because God will not do anything that is not according to His Word. In this case, I mean we cannot expect God to answer prayers on behalf of those who already departed. If they failed to secure a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ while they lived on this earth [ Matthew 11.28...Come unto Me,all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest], there is no way that our prayers will change their situation. The day of salvation is now while we live on this earth. One we die there is no longer any chance to have peace unless we had made peace with the Prince of Peace Himself. John the Baptist says in John 3.36: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: he that believeth not the Son shall not see life;but the wrath of God abideth on him. In the same book, Jesus speaks about those that don't believe in Him and says, "...he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God". Who are we to even imagine our prayers will change God? Let us pray, yes, but for those who are still living on this earth,
Gladys Brayer
Fyodor Dostoyevsky's words fill me with comfort and joy because he gets right to the heart of why we are here on the earth at this time in history. From the beginning, mankind has never been truly at peace...until we discover the greatest secret of life is to love each other unconditionally...it is only then that we can follow in the footsteps of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and to live by His example...to pick up our cross and follow Him to our Eternal Home.
Jerry Chance
What an inspirational piece! I pray for many that I don't know personally, especially those who are in any kind of trouble, pain, fear and those in prison. It's never occurred to me to pray for the lonely or friendless who have left life on earth this day to stand before our Lord in heaven. Shall certainly include them from this point in. Thank you Mr Dostoyevsky! God Bless Jerry Chance
michael walters
god is so good and lovein