Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith – being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1: 3 – 9
During Lent, the church has prescribed 228 readings from scripture. Only two are from the writing of St. Peter the Apostle. This is the first of the two. And it comes as part of the great Trunpatzek – The Opening of the Doors service. Much of today’s readings focus on the triumphal entrance of Christ into Jerusalem – both from the Old and New Testament. It is easy to overlook this passage from St. Peter, but instead we should read it over and over again. Why did Jesus ride into Jerusalem to face the cross? The final five words provide the answer: “the salvation of our souls.”
All of Jerusalem waited for Jesus’ arrival; some laid down palms for the Messiah, some plotted his death. All of us await Him; our souls long for Him whether we know it or not. We were made for this, and His destiny was to enter Jerusalem to accomplish what was impossible for man. He set His face towards the cross. He now eagerly awaits our coming to Him, longing for our love in return for the love He has for us, displayed openly on the cross for all to see.
Let us pray with St. Gregory:
And now, defeated on all fronts and completely forsaken,
like a feeble cripple, I am rejected, I am banished that I might perish.
Worn down by the multitude of blows, I was captured by death and deprived of grace.
I seek mercy with a shameful face.
I, who have committed all manner of sin, pray for all the dead living in you.
For you are able, with infinite ingenuity, to save dying mortals like me.
For you everything is possible.
Especially since you have power that knows no limits,
and you take delight in exercising your will for good.
Therefore, when these two illustrious and renewing graces
come together – power and will – the despair that afflicts the race of sinners is lifted away
and the light of your good news arrives with your prescription to heal our souls,
Lord of all, blessed forever.
Amen.
Prayer 86 B
