In today's Office of Readings we encounter a reading from a discourse of Origen of Alexandria on prayer (184-254 A.D.). Origen is a giant among early Christian thinkers. He was knowledgeable in all the arguments of the Greek philosophical schools but believed firmly in the Bible as the only source of true inspiration. He is thus a representative of that curious hybrid called “Christianity”, which on the one hand maintains (like the Jews) an ongoing direct relationship with the living God, who is the principle and source of being itself, but on the other hand maintains (like the Greeks) that everything makes sense rationally and it is our duty to make sense of it. As the Gospels say (but the Pentateuch does not), “You shall love the Lord your God with all your mind”. (Credit: from our friends at Universalis.com). For a reflection, "Thy kingdom come," please click on the image. Peace be with you!