Holy Week
Categories: orthodox-life
Date: 21 April 2008 05:51:47
Behold, the Bridegroom comes at midnight,
And blessed is that servant whom He shall find watching,
And again, unworthy is the servant whom He shall find heedless.
Beware, therefore, O my soul, do not be weighed down with sleep,
Lest you be given up to death, and lest you be shut out of the Kingdom.
But rouse yourself crying: Holy, Holy, Holy, are You, O our God,
Through the Theotokos have mercy on us.
I see your Bridal Chamber adorned, O my Saviour,
and I have no wedding garment that I may enter therein;
O giver of Light, make radiant the vesture of my soul, and save me.
It is Holy Week in the Orthodox Church, and some of the key services of this week are the Bridegroom Services. I missed last night's, but am looking forward to tonight and tomorrow night's services. I find the hymnography so beautiful, and so encouraging, as we draw near to the Feast of Feasts, Pascha.
Being brutally honest, this Great Lent has been a rather poor one for me. I have made little, well, no really, attempt to fast; I have not attempted to increase my prayers or spiritual readings; and I have not made an extra effort to give alms or to help those in need. If anything, it truly has been one of the most selfish and self-absorbed times of my life.
That said, this realisation has brought blessings in a number of unexpected ways. Having the talks with my priest about my struggles and particularly receiving the Sacrament of Confession were great blessings. Seeing my struggles, and my own unworthiness -- while not dwelling on it -- has been very beneficial. It has helped me to see, and encouraged me to try to better understand, the great love and grace of the Blessed Trinity and the great love of the Godhead for me. And it has made me try and resolve to put to death, as best I can with the grace of God, the passions that assail me. And to try, little by little, to adorn myself with a wedding garment acceptable to the great wedding feast of the Lord [cf Matthew 22:1-14]. A realisation I did greatly need to come to.
For all my Orthodox brothers and sisters, my warmest wishes and prayers as we enter Holy Week.