New testament Quote by J.D. Salinger
““When you don't see Jesus for exactly what he was, you miss the whole point of the Jesus Prayer. If you don't understand Jesus, you can't understand his prayer - you don't get the prayer at all, you just get some kind of organized cant. . . . If God had wanted somebody with St. Francis's consistently winning personality for the job of the New Testament, he'd've picked him, you can be sure. As it was, he picked the best, the smartest, the most loving, the least sentimental, the most unimitative master he could possibly have picked. And when you miss seeing that, I swear to you, you're missing the whole point of the Jesus Prayer. The Jesus Prayer has one aim, and one aim only. To endow the person who says it with Christ-Consciousness.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Spiritual Reflections, 1970
Understanding Jesus fully is essential; missing his true nature leads to a hollow prayer lacking depth.
In simple terms: True grasp of Jesus gives prayer meaning.
Key Takeaway
Seek deeper knowledge of spiritual figures.
Themes
faith
interpretation
spirituality
Mood
contemplative
serious
Type
theological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- church services
- personal meditation
- study groups
- interfaith dialogues
Key Concepts
theology
personal growth
prayer practice
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “Christ‑Consciousness” mean to you?
- How can one avoid superficial religious practice?
A Different Perspective
Complex theological concepts can be hard to grasp.
