"O Lord, and Master of My Life; spare me from the spirit of indifference, despair, lust for power, and idle chatter. Instead bestow on me, Your Servant, the spirit of humility, integrity, patience, and love. Yes, O Lord, and King, let me see my own sins; do not judge my brothers and sisters, for You are blessed forever and ever. Amen." - St. Ephraim the Syrian.

My brothers and sisters, let us reflect on this very important prayer in our lives, and how it affects culture, and how the Theology and the equation of this prayer is important. First off, look at how the society in the world has become... We have fallen victim to secularization, tyranny, lies, deception, destruction, and the "go with the flow" type of society.

The first line in this prayer tells us that, we, as Christians, must ask Our Divine Lord to spare us from everything modern society tells us, and tells us not to fall victim to what is being told by media, or by way of what is said by those in the world. With the second sentence, this is the spirit that we are called to live by, and to act upon. We must live by knowing what is true about the world, and pray that we will see that spirit of truth, love for each other, and for God's healing of all that threatens our way of life.

In order to achieve having to drive away the problems of the first spirit, and to usher in the second spirit to save us, we must follow the third sentence, in terms of seeing what our sins are, knowing what we are to confess unto Our Lord, and not to judge based upon the sins, faults, and failings of others, since they, too, must confess their own sins, and ask for that forgiveness.

In fact, let's watch this video on the message of this prayer, and the Theology on it from our friends at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Cathedral of Parma. This will explain everything there is to know about praying it, but also meaning what we pray when we say it:


Also, even though it might be prayed mainly during the Great Fast, and during Presanctified Liturgies, it should not only have to be prayed during that time of the year. This is a prayer that becomes important as we receive the Mystery of Reconciliation, since it tells us to repent these sins and failings, and to provide us with the gift of His abundant love, truth, and grace. I find it important to pray this during my "Bedtime Vespers" and to relieve me of all sin, failure, and fault from that day.

So, take a moment, watch the video, read this post, and reflect on how this short, yet powerful prayer can provide for you a way to find His forgiveness, and blessing in these times. I believe this will become worth looking into the deep Theology it provides.

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