His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America

Homily at the Vespers of Contrition

Saint Nicholas Shrine Greek Orthodox Church

Flushing, New York

March 20, 2022

 

Beloved sisters and brothers Christ,

We have now arrived at our Third Vespers of Contrition. These services provide a way for us to move from the relaxation of the Fast that we experience over the weekend, to the rigors we encounter the other five days of the week.

And it is meet and right that the Fast is somewhat relaxed over the weekend. For Saturday is the Sabbath, the Seventh Day of the Week, in which God rested from our Creation. And it is also on the Great and Holy Sabbath, when our Lord Jesus Christ rested from His Labors on the Cross to rest in the Tomb. Thus, we are given a respite on the weekend.

But tonight, at Vespers, as the next day, Monday, commences, (for “it was evening and morning, the first day”[*]) we engage again in our intentions and our ἄσκησις for the Holy Fast.

I am fully aware that it is not easy to apply oneself to the strenuous application of Lent in our modern lives. We have careers to pursue and schools to attend, and all manner of necessary and unnecessary distractions.

That may be why the Prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian is provided for our edification. For it sums up the spiritual approach to Lent with profound simplicity and meaning.

It is not surprising that he composed such a prayer. For it is said that when he was still an infant, his mother and father had a dream. And in this dream, from the little boy’s mouth, there came forth an abundant vine, filled with magnificent clusters of grapes. The birds of the air came to feed upon the fruit, and the more they fed, the more the vine produced.

Well, my friends, we are the birds who are being fed by his words. Listen to them closely:

Κύριε καὶ Δέσποτα τῆς ζωῆς μου, πνεῦμα ἀργίας, περιεργίας, φιλαρχίας, καὶ ἀργολογίας μή μοι δῷς.
Πνεῦμα δὲ σωφροσύνης, ταπεινοφροσύνης, ὑπομονῆς, καὶ ἀγάπης χάρισαί μοι τῷ σῷ δούλῳ.

Ναί, Κύριε Βασιλεῦ, δώρησαι μοι τοῦ ὁρᾶν τὰ ἐμὰ πταίσματα, καὶ μὴ κατακρίνειν τὸν ἀδελφόν μου, ὅτι εὐλογητὸς εἶ, εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.

O Lord and Master of my life, give me not the spirit of sloth, meddling, lust for power and idle talk.

 But grant unto me, Your servant, a spirit of purity, humility, patience and love.

 Yes, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults, and not judge my brother or sister. For You are blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Beloved brothers and sisters,

We could spend a lifetime – maybe even more – unpacking this wonderful prayer, which is so rich and textured with the truth of our Orthodox Faith.

But what I want to draw your attention to, is the last thought in the prayer.”

 … grant me to see mine own faults and not to judge my brother or sister.

Here, my friends, we have the entirety of the meaning of our Lenten Fast. For to see only one’s faults – no one else’s – and not to judge or condemn anyone – no matter what – is the essence of humility. It is the one virtue that contains all the others, because it is the Ladder by which our Lord Jesus Christ descended into the womb of the Virgin, which we celebrate this week in the Feast of the Annunciation.

Saint Paul puts it beautifully in his Letter to the Philippians:

Christ Jesus, Who, existing in the form of God, did not regard being equal to God as something to be grasped; rather, He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, and was born in the likeness of humankind. [†]

Humility places us in the lineage of our Lord Jesus Christ more than all ascetical practices; for it empties us of pride, of anger, of self-conceit and of false confidence.

It does not replace fasting, prayer and almsgiving. Rather, it makes them all possible, and, indeed, it makes them all efficacious.

         Therefore, let us learn this prayer with all our heart and soul and mind. Let us say it daily throughout the Fast – and even numerous times throughout each day.

         It will protect your Fast and your offering to the Lord of Hosts.

         It will strengthen your resolve.

         And it will grant you to arrive in peace of mind and in the faith of God’s forgiveness for your sins at the Holy Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is forever blessed and glorified with His Eternal Father, and the All-Holy, Good and Life-creating Spirit; now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.