Prayer vs Petition and the Tears of Repentance

Regarding the one called a spider, he says there is an extension of the soul. When the soul is stretched out, this extension occurs for its own benefit; for the spider-like quality is weak in it, and moreover it is shown to be an external evil. Therefore, you have examined the soul of this man as a spider, he who is being reproved under accusations for lawlessness.

12 Moreover, every man is tossed about in vain. All men who are outside the instruction of God and the reproofs are tossed about in vain. But this one, even if he is tossed about while being reproved, even if his soul is stretched out like a spider, he does not suffer this in vain; for he receives a change toward better things. But if anyone were such a bare man, not being under instruction, not being under reproofs, he is tossed about in vain according to what was said previously: 'Indeed, man wanders in an image, but they are tossed about in vain' (Ps 94:11). He who does not wish to be tossed about, but has tranquility, becomes God, having received the word of God; for 'he called those gods, those to whom the word of God came' (Ps 82:6). And these are not tossed about in vain, but even if it happens that they slip or a passion occurs, they say: 'I was tossed about and I did not speak.' Their tossing stands only until passion.

Furthermore: do they toss about from themselves? — At times they toss about from themselves, at other times from those encountering them. 13 Hear, O Lord, my prayer and my supplication. It seems there is something else that is the supplication of the prayer. He sends up a supplication, the one who has known himself to be begging and lacking, so that he may be filled. But the one praying has this form as well, yet at times asks for the existence of good things from above. The one asking from God to receive something, that is, what he does not have, asks to receive it, or what he has, so that it may remain with him. Primarily this is prayer; it is a request sent up along with the one theologizing, the one wishing, to whom the prayer is sent up. When he says: 'Lord our God, give us peace, for you gave us all things' (Hab 3:2). 'The prayer of Habakkuk the prophet.'

He said: 'Lord, I have heard your voice and was astounded. Let him be known in the midst of two living creatures; when the years approach, he shall not be known' (Habakkuk 3:2). Behold, this is a prayer. When one asks for only those things which he lacks while being in need, it is a petition, being sent back like a wish. It is also possible to take it this way: those asking for more bodily things petition, such as health, wealth, and the others, as being in need, and many times they are worthy to receive these. But he who desires to have fullness, says: 'The prayer of Habakkuk the prophet: Lord, I have heard your voice and was astounded. Let him be known in the midst of two living creatures; when the years approach, he shall not be known' (Habakkuk 3:2). Behold, this is a prayer.

'Lord our God, give us peace, for you have given us all things' (1 Chronicles 29:14). Since even as one lacking, I ask that something might be given to me—for I am still at the peak of childhood—listen to my petition. But since I am about to come by chance to those things of which I am lacking, having become full, I ask for greater things; I ask for heavenly things and I say: 'Our Father who is in the heavens, hallowed be your name' (Matthew 6:9)—not as one lacking does he ask this. 'Let your kingdom come' (Matthew 6:10). Make it come. Then it comes, so that God may reign according to our energy.

Unite them with my tears. Seeing myself lacking, I weep, making that 'godly sorrow working repentance unto salvation' (2 Corinthians 7:10), regarding which I say: 'I will wash my bed every night, with my tears I will wet my couch.' And since he who is lacking perfection and the extremity of virtue—again he pours himself out saying: 'We who dwell in the tent groan' (Psalm 88:7), and again: 'I have poured out my tears before you according to your promise'—you see: 'as in the promise I have poured out my tears.' What tears are these, or those of the ones weeping so that they might laugh? For 'blessed' are 'those who weep now, that they may laugh' (Luke 6:21). These placed the tears as in the promise, so that they might laugh, so that they might be filled with joy.