February 9: The Jesus Prayer

" Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner!"

This week, as we contemplate the Gospel reading, we can attempt to imitate our justified friend the Publican by calling upon Jesus using the very words that he used in prayer.  Such a simple, yet powerful prayer, it sums up everything a soul needs in every time and situation and can be easily said and contemplated throughout the day. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:  16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

As the mother of five young disciples of Christ, how often do I find myself doing mundane and seemingly mindless tasks;  Washing dishes...alone, because they disperse like frightened mice when I approach the sink after dinner...vacuuming, driving to this or that activity.  These are some of the many household tasks that lend themselves perfectly to contemplative prayer!  I have gotten into the habit of wearing a hand-made chotki, a ring of beads, on my wrist so that at a moments notice, whether it be day or sleepless night, I can immerse myself in the Jesus prayer.  

The making of these chotki beads is a fun and easy craft that our children can do this week to prepare themselves to bolster their spiritual lives during this Great Fast.   Seeing them around your wrist will serve as a reminder to pray without ceasing.

You will need some woolen yarn, matching embroidery floss, and 21 pony beads.

First, cut two pieces of yarn and a two piece of floss to measure 12 inches.

Pair each length of yarn with a piece of floss, and wrap each end of them together with a piece of transparent tape (like a shoelace, in order to facilitate the pushing of the yarn through each bead) to form two cords.  Push both cords through one bead, and place the bead in the center of the cords, knotting the bead in place on each side.  This will become the center point of the chotki.

On each side of the center bead, you will string 10 pony beads in the following manner.  Take the bead, and push one cord through from the right side, and the other through from the left, and pull it into place toward the center bead.  

Continue with the other beads, on each side, until all 20 beads are strung.

After all the beads are strung, knot the cords together behind them, forming a large strong knot, and making a circular set of beads.   Cut off the excess yarn to form a tassel ( traditionally there to dry the penitents tears as he prays!  How cool is that?)

As an adult, I have found this design, with this number of beads, to be most helpful in praying both the Jesus prayer and the Rule of the Theotokos ( aka the Rosary).  They can also be useful as sacrifice beads, upon which you or your child might keep track of the good deeds of the day before offering them to Jesus.  Not only does it facilitate the saying of these prayers, the chotki actually fit quite well around the average adult wrist!  If you are making this for a smaller child, however, you may want to subtract a few beads from each side so that the bracelet will fit them well.