For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; We are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; Struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4: 5-9
As Armenians, the greatest treasure we have inherited from our ancestors is our faith in God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Spirit – the power of God. Collectively, we have suffered greatly for tenaciously holding on to this treasure. We can lose this treasure, but only through our choice. If we haven’t yet truly embraced it as our own, we can do so this Lent. Saint Gregory leads us in prayer to do just that.
Let us pray with St. Gregory:
Lord Christ, praised and worshipped with your Father
and exalted and proclaimed with the Holy Spirit,
who alone became human like us for our sakes,
so that you might make us like you for your sake,
light unto all, merciful, almighty and heavenly in all ways,
I pray that with your divine miracle-working power, compassionate God,
you restore this, my collapsing broken earthen vessel.
I pray that you recast the image you gave me, worn by sin,
and the lightning crucible of your word.
Cleanse the temple of my body,
the vessel of my soul, the altar of your repose,
as your dwelling place, I pray you,
O doer of good.
Amen
Prayer 19 A
