This Daily Devotion is to help our members and others reflect on the understanding of Christian service to our Lord.

Devotion for Saturday, February 11, 2023

The Rt. Rev. Archimandrite, Msgr. George Appleyard

An Invitation to Prayer

You sacrificed yourself, Lord Jesus,
and ransomed us by your blood. Rev. 5:9b
—You made us into kings and priests
    to serve you and govern the world. Rev. 5:10
    Accept our service as true worship!

The Canticle of Azariah from Daniel 3:26-31

This text is not found in the Hebrew Bible

Blessed are you, God of our ancestors.
Your name is due praise, to be glorified forever.
You are just in all you have done to us.
Your works are real, your ways right,
    your verdicts just.
All you have brought upon us
you have imposed as a fair sentence:
    upon Jerusalem,
    your holy city of our ancestors.
You have done it all because of our sins—
    a fair verdict!
For we have sinned in every way,
    and broken you law by turning from it,
    and sinned grievously in everything.
We have ignored the commandments of your Law—
    we have not kept them
    nor done as you ordered us.
All you have brought upon us now
    you have imposed as a fair sentence.

From Basil’s “Lakizois” Homily

“Do not dine with a jealous man.” (Prov. 23:6) Another passion that makes itself at home in the life of human beings, continually clinging to our souls and eating up our heart more than rust eats away iron, is jealousy. Now there are many evils in it, but one advantage. It is an evil for the individual who suffers from it, but it does not inflict much harm on any one else! The jealous person may be consumed by groaning and irritation over the good fortune of his neighbor, but that does not take anything away from him!

A Prayer

Perhaps, O Father, I excuse my jealousy because I rationalize it as fair and just. Someone has something I do not have, and I feel diminished, overlooked. Let me drive away the spirit of jealousy by counting the many blessings you have bestowed on me, the many good things that I may be taking for granted. Make me increasingly aware that your Providence has given less to others to prepare an opportunity for me to grow in sympathy and gratitude. Amen!