Vespers Entrance Prayer

Vespers is the “Twelfth Hour” and therefore the service that straddles the gap between day and night. Behind us are the hours of the day. Ahead are the watches of the night. Today’s Daily Lenten Journey will feature the prayer during which we ‘enter’ into the night.

In the evening, at dawn, and at midday, we praise You, we bless You, we thank You, and we beseech You, O Master of all, the Lord Who loves mankind. Guide our prayers, as incense before You, and do not let our hearts be inclined toward words or thoughts of evil, but save us from all who pursue our souls; do not put us to shame, O our God, for our eyes are fixed on You, Lord, O Lord, and we have hoped in You. For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

This prayer is not just a summary of our day. We ask God to guide our prayers ‘up’ to Him in heaven. Remember this is a communal prayer inside the Church while we are standing looking up to heaven. “Our eyes are fixed” on God as we pray for His mercy and grace.

At this point it seems appropriate to discuss the interior of the Church. Whether it is a traditional dome or standard basilica, the interior of every Orthodox Church has only one purpose. Every icon, every candle, and even the windows have one purpose, to remind us of heaven.

We know God is physically present in the Church since Holy Communion is on the Holy Altar Table. When we gather as a Church family inside the Church, much differently than standing in front of our icons at home, we are standing WITH God. This prayer reminds us of that.

Nothing is better than focusing our eyes on God while we complete the day in prayer as a family. Soon enough we will leave the Church and return home for the night. This prayer begins to set the tone for ‘one last stop’ to see God before we settle in for the night.

Tomorrow, we will wrap up our study of the silent prayers of Vespers. Until then, focus your eyes on God. Happy praying.