Those who visit our friends at JN1034 were startled by the announcement of an offline emergency on 4 January, followed by no blogging. We held them in our prayers. Since then there have been only two posts, the most recent having ominous overtones.The delicate nature of things and the precarious position of those who speak out on behalf of LGBT people within the Orthodox Church combine to make it unlikely that faithful readers will, or should, learn all that is going on--BUT WE KNOW OUR ORTHODOX BROTHERS AND SISTERS NEED OUR PRAYER.
So this is a plea for a strong prayer vigil. You may drop by and send them your love and by all means let us hold them in our hearts before God.
May the Holy Angels guard and defend them.
May the Theotokos cast her mantle over them.
May Christ be their Light, their Peace, their Shield, and their Joy.
May Truth and Righteousness prevail.
Original image borrowed from JN1034Having risen from sleep I hasten to you,
O Lord, Lover of humanity,
and by Your loving-kindness
I strive to do your work,
and I pray to You:
help me at all times,
in everything,
and deliver me
from every evil thing of the world
and every attack of the devil,
and lead me into Your eternal Kingdom.
For You are my Creator,
the Giver and Provider of every good,
and all my hope is in You,
and to You I send up glory, now and ever,
and to the ages of ages. Amen.
--Third Prayer of St. Makarios the Great
--the BB
6 comments:
Thanks for this Paul- I have been missing them and praying for them as well.
Thanks for the reminder Paul, somehow I missed their emergency post.
I don't really go there--but what you ask for, I'll do.
Beloved brother in Christ, +Paul:
Blogger not down. Blogger asleep. Your kindness to share our ephemeral dormition is greatly appreciated.
Yes, we have some unique challenges, but who doesn't? This is a momentary rest whereby we will be re-fueled by the grace and mercy of the Holy Trinity. Life in Christ is never over ... it simply transforms from glory to glory (with a few pit-stops now and again for a Greek coffee and some baklava).
As if by the silent union of the Holy Spirit, you raised St Makarios' words, and we chant along with you. May we add: "As we lay to sleep, O Lord, may our rest be not a tomb of decay and death, but a living witness of your Holy Resurrection. We close our eyes for but a flash, and you, Lover of Humanity, will surely awaken us to a greater life, with greater power and responsibility, as is your predisposition for your creation. 'Fess up, O Lord, you love us, and everything about humanity you romance and constantly desire." (last part an innovation).
Though weak, we are strong. Always frightened, we are bold. Forever dismayed, we are rejoicing. Yes, God is with us. Oh that lil'prodigal God of ours ... how God entrusts us with God's creation!
Paul, do not let your heart be heavy (not allowed, nuh-uh). We are birthing something new, and in God's spacetime we will know what that is.
Friends like you have empowered us when we are unsure. And in turn, we've touched many people with something we are only conduits of.
As always, thank you. Embedded in God, JN1034+++
(PS, maybe a Friday "Little Prince Blogging"? See Chapter 21. The fox to the prince: "And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye … It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important … Men have forgotten this truth … But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose . . ."
I rejoice to read all this, though that little cross in front of my name would indicate I am a bishop, from which God preserve me (and not bloodly likely)!
Ah, le Petit Prince. Il faut que j'y pense alors.
Thank you, Paul, for this resource; I herewith join your company of prayer.
And there's no need to deny it with such language, young man, do you hear?
Yes, Ma'am (You witch!)
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