Prayer of the Ninth Hour

We are making our way through the day focusing on the Hours of Prayer. If you have been engaging in the prayers, then you are ready for the Prayer of the Ninth Hour, the time when Christ died on the Cross.

Our Lord and Savior hung on the Cross for three hours before lifting up His voice to heaven and giving up His life for us, but not before leading each of us into paradise. Through forgiving the thief and His executioners, Christ gives us one final lesson. Giving our life is about love.

O Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, who are long-suffering in the face of our transgressions, and have led us to the present hour, in which, as You hung upon the lifegiving tree, You made a way into Paradise for the penitent robber, and destroyed death by death: Cleans us, Your humble, sinful and unworthy servants. For we have sinned and transgressed and are not worthy to lift up our eyes and look at the height of heaven, for we have abandoned the path of righteousness and followed the desires of our hearts. So we implore Your incomparable goodness: Spare us, O Lord, according to the abundance of Your mercy, and save us for Your holy name’s sake, for our days have passed in vanity. Rescue us from the hand of the adversary and forgive our sins, and mortify our mind set on the flesh; so that we may put off the old man be clothed with the new, and live for You, our Master and Benefactor. And thus may we follow Your commandments, and arrive at the eternal rest, where the dwelling is of all those who rejoice. For You are the true joy and exultation of those who love You, Christ our God, and we send up glory to You and Your unoriginate Father and Your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and forever and to ages of ages. (Amen.)

On the Cross the thief said, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” (Luke 23.40-41) His death was for love, not a crime.

The Ninth Hour is set at 3pm. By late afternoon most of us have spent the day forgetting about God’s love. We have spent more time feeling sorry for ourselves either because we are tired and want to go home, or because we can’t seem to ‘get ahead’ with our goals.

It is a good time to be reminded that God’s love has rescued us from death. We will die a physical death. We will not accomplish everything we want to accomplish in our lives if our goal is wealth and prestige. The thief begged, “Remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

Late afternoon, when we are tired from a long day, is a good time to remember a better goal. It is never too late to change our goals in life. Rather than finish the day ‘closing another deal,’ why not finish the day asking God to forgive us our sins. We aren’t worthy, but we want to be.

That’s the thing about being Orthodox Christian in America. Just admitting we aren’t worthy is counterculture, but it is true. We aren’t worthy of looking at God, but He reveals Himself to us. We aren’t worthy of heaven, but He died so we could be with Him in heaven.

We pray, “Rescue us from the hand of the adversary,” before it is too late, and we finish the day having only accomplished earthly things rather than heavenly things. Give it a try today at 3pm. Set your smart device to remind you to pray the Prayer of Ninth Hour. You may be surprised.

Happy Praying.