Remembering to Give Thanks Frequently
“We thank thee, O Christ our God, that thou hast satisfied us with thy earthly gifts, deprive us not of thy Heavenly Kingdom; but as thou entered into the midst of thy disciples, O Saviour, and gave them peace, enter also among us and save us. Amen.”
This prayer is one of my personal favorites, for it recognizes in concise words my need to remember to give thanks to God for all He has given me. It connects me to the ancient Church, for it allows me to recount the Lord’s coming in the midst of His disciples, and granting them the peace I so desire. It keeps me focused on the goal, and remembering, throughout my day, that the Lord is to be my focus.
This is the prayer many Orthodox Christians pray at the end of meals, yet also a prayer that can be offered whenever we are feeling a certain gratefulness of heart, or desiring God’s loving mercy.
Prayers like this are easily memorized, allowing us to express our gratitude to God without being wordy. The Lord knows our needs, and there is no need to “spell it out” for God. What is necessary is that we remember to give thanks to God, and let the Lord hear from us throughout the day. These short little prayers are perfect for keeping ourselves spiritually focused, as they express our desire to make communion with God the central part of our day.
This is a wonderful prayer to say with children, just before tucking them in for the night, ending their waking hours by calling down God’s peace into their hearts. It is a wonderful prayer to offer, as we’ve arrived safely to our destination, following the morning commute.
Our prayers need not be long, but they should be frequent. Just as an old couple who’ve shared a long life together don’t need to say a lot of words in order to demonstrate their love for one another, so too, our prayers don’t need to be long and formal, in order to let God know we love Him, but they do need to be frequent.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photo: Lily is our little Siberian Forest Cat. Of our three cats she is the smallest, but she catches the most rats and mice. How she can be so fierce, yet so cute, is beyond me.
Friday December 3, 2021 / November 20, 2021
24th Week after Pentecost. Tone six.
Nativity (St. Philip’s Fast). By Monastic Charter: Strict Fast (Bread, Vegetables, Fruits)
Forefeast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple.
Venerable Gregory Decapolites (816).
St. Proclus, archbishop of Constantinople (447).
New Hieromartyrs Macarius bishop of Ecaterinoslav, Alexis, Alexander, Vladimir, John, Alexis, Basil, Nicholas, John, Emilian, Nocolos priests and Hieromartyrs Arsenius, Eutihius and Hillarion, Woman Hieromartyr Ioanicus hegumen (1937).
New Woman Hieromartyr Tatiana (after 1937).
Venerable Diodorus of George Hill (Solovki) (1633).
Martyr Dasius of Dorostolum (Romania) (303).
Martyrs Eustace, Thespesius, and Anatolius of Nicaea (312).
Hieromartyrs Nerses and Joseph; and John, Saverius, Isaac, and Hypatius, bishops of Persia; Martyrs Azades, Sasonius, Thecla, and Anna (343).
Martyrs Bautha and Denachis, who suffered with Hieromartyr Nerses of Persia (343). oSt. Isaac, bishop of Armenia (440). oVenerable Theoctistus the Confessor (855). oSt. Edmund, king of England and martyr (869) (Celtic & British).
St. Sozomen of Cyprus (12th c.).
The Scripture Readings
1 Thessalonians 5:9-13
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
Various Exhortations
12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
1 Thessalonians 5:24-28
24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Luke 16:15-18
15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
16 “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.
18 “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.
Luke 17:1-4
Jesus Warns of Offenses
17 Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”