St. Isaak the Syrian's ascetical homilies are a wealth of spiritual sustenance. Yes, there are some strictly monastic things in his writings which lay folk should not be concerned with, but the constant focus of one's life toward the God Who created them, loves them and desires their salvation -which the entirety of the book is about- should compel one to purchase and read this book without fear or hesitation if one desires to come closer to God.
In Homily 16 we read this beautiful exhortation, which during this time of the Great Fast, is so pertinent to our spiritual occupation:
For I make bold to say, along with Saint Paul, 'We are the temple of God.' Let us then purify His temple, as He is pure, that He may wish to settle in it. Let us hallow it, as He is holy. And let us adorn it with all good and honorable works. Let us cense it with the frankincense that gives rest to His will, with the pure and heartfelt prayer that is impossible to acquire by association with constant worldly activities, and thus the cloud of His glory will overshadow our souls, and the light of His majesty will dawn within our hearts; and all those who dwell in the tabernacle of God will be filled with joy and gladness, but the unabashed and shameless will vanish in the flame of the Holy Spirit.
To end the homily, St. Isaak recites a prayer for us which acknowledges our sinfulness, our weakness and if we are brutally honest with ourselves, its words confess for us how neglectful we've been of God. For those who think themselves pious yet never actually look into the darkness of their souls, such prayers are eye-openers. May God open our hearts to true repentance!
O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, Thou that didst weep over Lazarus, and shed tears of sorrow and compassion for him, accept the tears of my bitterness. By Thy Passion, cure my passions.
By Thy Wounds, heal my wounds.
By Thy Blood, purge my blood; mingle the fragrance of Thy life-creating Body with my body.
Let the gall Thou didst drink at enemies' hands sweeten my soul from the bitterness which the foe hath given me to drink.
Let Thy Body, O Friend of man, which was stretched on the Tree of the Cross, extend toward Thee mine understanding which is dragged evilly downward by demons.
Let Thy Head, which Thou didst bow on the Cross, raise up my head, which is buffeted by mine adversaries.
Let Thine all-holy Hands, which were nailed to the Cross by the unbelieving Jews, lead me out of the abyss of perdition to Thee, as Thine all-holy Mouth hath promised
Let Thy Countenance, which received blows and spittings from accursed men, brighten my countenance, which is stained with iniquities.
Let Thy Soul, which on the Cross Thou didst commend to Thy Father, guide me to Thee by Thy grace.
I have not a mournful heart wherewith to seek Thee, I have no re-pentance, I have no compunction, which brings the children into their proper inheritance. O Master, I have not a comforting tear.
My mind is darkened by the affairs of this life, and hath no strength to look steadfastly toward Thee with groaning. My heart is grown cold from the multitude of temptations, and cannot warm herself with tears of love for Thee.
But Thou, my Lord and God Jesus Christ, the Treasury of good gifts, grant me thorough repentance and a sorrowing heart, that with all my soul I may go forth to seek Thee. For without Thee, I am a stranger to all that is good.
Therefore, O Good One, freely grant me Thy grace. Let the Fa-ther, Who hath timelessly and everlastingly brought Thee forth from His bosom, renew in me the features of Thine image.
I have forsaken Thee, do not forsake me. I have gone out from Thee, come out to seek me, and lead me up to Thy pasture, and number me among the sheep of Thy chosen flock, and nourish me with them on the verdure of Thy Divine Mysteries; for their pure heart is Thy lodging-place, and therein is the illumination of Thy revelations clearly beheld, which is the comfort and refreshment of those who for Thy sake have travailed in afflictions and every kind of outrage.
May we also be deemed worthy of this illumination by Thy grace and love for man, O our Saviour Jesus Christ, unto the ages of ages.
Amen.
Comments