Rev. Dustin ParkerVespers
Three times a month I have the privilege of serving Vespers in our Parish. Vespers for those who don't know is the Evening Service that begins the Liturgical day. Orthodox worship is based on the Liturgical cycle of Monastries and the Liturgical day begins in the evening-in line with Genesis chapters one and two talking about the seven days of creation-'in the evening and the norning....'
Over the years one line , one prayer in particular, has held my attention-"Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us without sin this night"
I don't know about you, but one of the things about being a Christian is that I do have somewhere to go when all fails, some one to go to.
An Irish folksong called "The Parting Glass" talks about
'all the songs I did not sing, the promises I did not keep''
In his Good Friday Meditation, Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia spoke about Jesus at Gethsemane. He said Gethsemane was for "any..... suffering from loneliness, fear, depression, distress and anguish of mind", and with great candour and in parenthesis "and in one way or another that includes most of us."
Metropolitan Kallistos went on to say that "Gethsamane means that I am never alone. I have a companion. In my distress and anguish there is one who who understands what I am going through. And he understands because he himself has gone through the same things."
That is what stops me being overwhelmed by that prayer during Vespers-the fact that Christ understands, because he was tempted in all things such as we are, but he also had the victory, a victory which is mine as I am in Christ.
Over the years one line , one prayer in particular, has held my attention-"Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us without sin this night"
I don't know about you, but one of the things about being a Christian is that I do have somewhere to go when all fails, some one to go to.
An Irish folksong called "The Parting Glass" talks about
'all the songs I did not sing, the promises I did not keep''
In his Good Friday Meditation, Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia spoke about Jesus at Gethsemane. He said Gethsemane was for "any..... suffering from loneliness, fear, depression, distress and anguish of mind", and with great candour and in parenthesis "and in one way or another that includes most of us."
Metropolitan Kallistos went on to say that "Gethsamane means that I am never alone. I have a companion. In my distress and anguish there is one who who understands what I am going through. And he understands because he himself has gone through the same things."
That is what stops me being overwhelmed by that prayer during Vespers-the fact that Christ understands, because he was tempted in all things such as we are, but he also had the victory, a victory which is mine as I am in Christ.
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