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Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.

Prayer at Daybreak (by Archimandrite Sophronios)

O  Lord Eternal and Creator of all things, who with your unknowable goodness called me to this life; I have no life, no light, no joy or wisdom, no strength except in you, O God. I entreat you, teach me to pray aright. Purify me from all taint of flesh and spirit. Bless this day which you give to me, your unworthy servant.

By the power of your blessing enable me, throughout this day, to speak and act to your glory with a pure spirit, with humility, patience, love, gentleness, peace, courage and wisdom. Let me be always aware of your presence. By the power of your love, grant me to hold fast to that which is good. Preserve me from every word or deed that corrupts the soul; from every impulse unpleasing in your sight and hurtful to my fellow man, my brothers and sisters.

This in Christ’s name, I pray,

Thanks for Grace

O  Lord God, I know you demand my complete and perfect submission and obedience; and I have never given it to you, except perhaps in brief moments of prayer. But I know you do not command obedience because you just enjoy telling me what to do. It is because you want to bless me completely, and you cannot bless what you do not have. You claim me only out of love, because you want to bless me with all goodness, with perfect goodness, with all abundance and all happiness, to take away my pain forever. I cannot do this, Lord, but I know that you can, by Your grace.

I pray thus for grace, to make me your own even in my imperfection, through the miracle you gave us in the life and death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ. I give you all my love and thanks for stooping to remember me, to rescue me, and to make me perfect that I may have your blessing. And it is in His name that I pray,

Mason Barge //2016

Meditation

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

~ C.S. Lewis

Benediction

Into your hands, O Lord, Jesus Christ, my God, I commend my spirit. Bless me and all those who pray in faith of You this day; save us and grant unto us everlasting life.

Think of the day ahead in terms of God with you, and visualize health, strength, guidance, purity, calm confidence, and victory as the gifts of His presence.

Psalm 85:8-9 (NKJV)

Luke 24:28-35 (ESV)

On the Road to Emmaus [2]

o they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.

And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Notes on the Scripture

The two travelers, although they had not understood that Christ would be resurrected (and still do not recognize Him), are nevertheless well-intentioned. They are happy to entertain this stranger and eager to hear more about what he has to say.

Jesus breaks the bread at their humble table and they immediately recognize Him. The breaking of bread is, of course, a recreation of the Last Supper. Once again, we are taught that we cannot find Christ with our minds or our eyes. We must take him into our bodies and our hearts. We cannot truly recognize Him until He is within us. How then do we come to Him? He makes our hearts burn with the Word so that we are filled with desire to have Him within us. He makes us “hungry,” so that we will eat the bread.

The travelers hasten back to Jerusalem to tell the news. In an odd aside, they say that Christ has appeared to Simon; apparently, He told them this at supper. Luke does not mention a private appearance to Peter anywhere else, but we hear it reinforced from Paul (of all people) in 1 Corinthians 15:5.

The “Road to Emmaus” and “Emmaus House” have become a famous part of the Christian lexicon, representing Christ’s presence throughout the world and His willingness to come to any person, anywhere, at any time. “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them (Matthew 18:20).”

Daily Inspiration

“And I in You”

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