thesoulpurposedotorg

The following prayer of St. Basil speaks from a place of such deep presence and awareness of the Holy. I read it each day and find something transformative in it. In these dark times of both earthly disasters and national disgrace, I often find I do not know how to pray. What can I say? I am ashamed not just of my own insensitivites and insecurities, but I am ashamed of the actions of our government done in the name of Christ and the expectation of God’s blessing. My own beloved country, using chemical weapons, on men, women and children….using torture and denying it…I am deeply embarassed for us all. In the midst of this, two lines from this prayer help me: grant us to pass through the night of the whole present life and this reminder that this time too shall pass: For Thou are the true Light that enlightenest and sactifiest all, and all creation doth hymn Thee unto the ages of ages. Doth hymn Thee May we hymn thee, ture Light and may we worship in truth as well as in spirit.

O Lord Almighty, God of hosts and of all flesh, Who dwellest on high and lookest down on things that are lowly, Who searchest the heart and innermost being, and clearly fore-knowest the secrets of men; O unoriginate and everlasting Light, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning; Do Thou, O Immortal King, receive our supplications which we, daring because of the multitude of the Thy compassions, offer Thee at the present time from defiled lips; forgive us our sins, in deed, in word, and thought, whether committed by us knowingly or in ignorance, and cleanse us from every defilement of flesh and spirit.

And grant us to pass through the night of the whole present life with watchful heart and sober thought, ever expecting the coming of the bright and appointed day of Thine Only-begotten Son, our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus Christ, whereon the Judge of all shall come with glory to reward each according to his deeds. May we not be found fallen and idle, but watching, upright in activity, ready to accompany Him into the joy and divine palace of His glory, where there is the ceaseless sound of those that keep festival, and the unspeakable delight of those that behold the ineffable beauty of Thy countenance. For Thou are the true Light that enlightenest and sanctifiest all, and all creation doth hymn Thee unto the ages of ages, Amen.