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

Devotion for Monday, February 13, 2023

The Rt. Rev. Archimandrite, Msgr. George Appleyard

An Invitation to Prayer

Who would not revere and praise your name, O Lord?
All the nations will come and adore you!
—From the wealth of your holiness,
    and from the example of your justice,
    accept our prayer and guide us to you.

The Canticle of Azariah from Daniel 3:39-45

May we be accepted, rather,
    for a broken will and a contrite spirit.
May it count as a holocaust of rams and bulls—
    as ten thousand fat lambs.
Let our sacrifice come before you like this today,
because no one who trust you will ever be shamed.
    May it be so with you!

And now we will follow you with our whole heart,
we will respect you and seek your presence.
Do not put us to shame,
    but deal with us in your patience
    and your great mercy.
Rescue us in accordance with your mighty deeds
and bring glory to your name, O Lord!
And may all who showed malice to your servants
    be put to shame,
    held in disgrace by all authorities,
    and find their power broken.
Let them learn that only you are Lord,
    glorious over all the world!

From Basil’s “Lakizois” Homily

Do not grow your sin! The sickness of greed is never inert, but more like fire. As soon as a fire is started in a driving wind, it rushes to consume all the wood it can until no one can stop it and all the wood is gone. What can put a brake on the greedy person? He is more cruel, consuming everything and never stopping. He takes what belongs to his neighbor. Then another neighbor appears and he grabs what belongs to him, too. He pays no attention to what he has already—too much—but is obsessed by what he does not have while his neighbor does. He does not enjoy his own things, but is anxious about what he does not have. He is not interested in what he has amassed already, but is eaten up with the desire for more.

A Prayer

What a pity, Lord Jesus, if I should pass up all the joys and pleasures you have provided to me because I am obsessed with gaining possession of something else, and something more, even when I know I do not need it. What a pity if I harbor a sneaking suspicion that you do not love me as much as you love others who seem to have so much more than I. Deliver me from this outrage. Amen.