This Daily Devotion is to help our members and others reflect on the understanding of Christian service to our Lord.
Devotion for Saturday, February 6, 2021
The Rt. Rev. Archimandrite, Msgr. George Appleyard
An Invitation to Prayer
One of the elders said to me, Cf. Rev. 7:13&15
“These people in white, who are they
and where do they come from?”
—Then he said,
“They have passed through the great tribulation…
and that is why they are before the throne of God,
worshipping night and day in his Temple.”
Psalm 97/98
Sing a new song to the Lord,
for the Lord has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
have achieved victory for him.
The Lord has made known his victory,
he has revealed his justice before the nations.
He has remembered his mercy for Jacob,
and his truth for the house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Cheer for the Lord, all the earth,
sing and rejoice and make music.
Raise a song to the Lord on the harp—
with a harp and the words of a song.
With trumpets of brass and trumpets of horn
raise a joyful blast before the king, the Lord.
Let the sea move, and all that fills it—
the world, and all who live on it.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
and let the mountains rejoice,
because he comes to judge the earth—
to judge the world fairly,
and the people with truth.
From Basil’s letter to Sozopolis, #26; the conclusion
These, brethren, are the mysteries of the Church; these are the traditions of the Fathers. I charge everyone who fears the Lord and awaiting God’s judgment, not to be carried away by different doctrines. Beware of anyone who teaches a different doctrine, who refuses to accede to the sound expression of the faith, rejecting the oracles of the Spirit and making his own teaching more authoritative than the lessons of the Gospels. May the Lord grant that we can get together someday, so that when we are face to face I may share all the arguments which I have skipped. I have written little when there is much to say, for I do not like to go beyond the limits of my letter. At the same time I do not doubt that, for all who fear the Lord, a brief reminder is sufficient.
A Prayer
O most glorious and exalted Lord, glorified on high by ministers of flaming fire and wind in a most holy manner, in your love you still wished to be praised by humanity on earth as well, so that you might elevate our mortal race and make it like the angelic. Free us in your compassion from cares of any kind that hinder us from giving you true worship, and teach us to seek the Kingdom and its justice in accord with your holy and life-giving commandments. Amen!