One of the things I love about the Eastern tradition is that our worship always includes pedagogy. Our liturgical celebration always includes a catechetical aspect to it. One can’t go through a complete year’s worth of liturgical texts without gaining a greater insight into their Christian faith, what it means, and what it requires of us. Of course, the texts often become a challenge for us about the way we live our lives. Take, for example, the following from today’s Matins. If you looked at it and used its message as a way of praxis, what kind of praxis would it be? What would you label it? “Liberal”? “Communist”? “Impractical”? “Anti-American”? “Traditional”? “Conservative”? What?
Canon
Ode 1I am like the rich man who daily took delight in the abundance of pleasures; deliver me, I pray you, O Savior, as you did Lazarus from the fire.
Even though I am clothed in sensual pleasures, O Savior, and adorned in purple, brocade and fine clothing as the rich man, do not throw me into the fire like him.
The rich man led a splendid and luxurious life in this world which passes and disappears; therefore, he was condemned to punishment, while the poor man Lazarus was refreshed with dew.
Ode 8
Once the rich man was pompously adorned, clothing himself in purple, scarlet, and fine silk; at his gate lay the poor Lazarus in his misery, longing to eat the crumbs that fell from the well-laden table; but no one gave him any. Therefore, Christ has welcomed him into his kingdom.
Lazarus was completely covered with sores and wounds as he lay before the gate of the rich man, in day of old; he longed to satisfy his hunger, but no one gave him anything to eat; in their compassion, the dogs licked his sores and wounds with their tongues. Therefore, he was invited to share in the delights of Paradise.
I have prospered in pleasures like the rich man of old, clothed in purple every day; O God of mercy, I too am condemned by the softness of my life, for I have strayed through my gratifications. Therefore, I pray you, O Lord, always deliver me from the eternal fire.
Ode 9
Grant me the poverty of Lazarus, O Christ; in your power, restrain my drives for pleasure; grant me the rich abundance of virtue, that I may praise and extol you.
Like the merciless man, I have scorned your commandments, O Lord; and now, in my misery, I lie before your gate; but in your love and compassion, raise me up from the abyss like Lazarus your friend.
We all know the parable of the Lord; let us detest the heatlessness of the rich man, that we may avoid the same punishment; and then, in the bosom of Abraham, we shall rejoice with an unending joy.
Doxastikon of the Fifth Sunday of the Great Fast
The Kingdom of heaven is not eating and drinking, but it is justice and holiness. Therefore, the rich cannot enter unless they share their treasures with the poor. For the prophet David taught us, saying: The just ones shall show mercy all day long and place their delight in the law of the Lord; they walk in the light and their steps do not falter. All this was written for our understanding, to join good deeds with fasting, and, in exchange for earthly goods, the Lord will grant the riches of heaven.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In