Orthros Prayer Five

We all know that ‘one person’ who is always over-the-top in everything. Is there something nice to say? That one person never stops at just one good thing. Need a comforting hug? That one person let us ‘melt’ into their loving arms. Nothing is done without excess.

This is the image that comes to my mind when I offer this prayer at every Orthros service. The prayer opens with the image of God as an ‘over-the-top’ God in our life. He is all good. He is all powerful. He is an overflowing fountain of love. This is the God to Whom we pray.

O Treasury of all good things, overflowing Fountain, holy Father, wonder Worker, all-powerful One, and almighty One: we all worship You, and we beseech You, calling upon Your mercy and compassion, to support and to assist us in our humility. Remember, O Lord, those who beseech You; receive the morning prayers of us all as incense before You, and let none of us be lost, but surround us all with Your compassion. Remember, O Lord, those who keep watch, and who sing to the glory that is Yours, and of Your only-begotten Son and our God, and of Your Holy Spirit. Be their Help and their Defense; receive their prayers upon Your supra-heavenly and noetic altar. For You are our God, and to You we send up glory: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

When God sends His love to humanity, it isn’t a small gesture. His gift of love began ages ago when He created the entire universe ‘just’ to help us find Him. His love continued by providing His angles and prophets throughout the ages to guide us in our struggles.

His overflowing fountain of love gushed over the top when He became human and died on the Cross for our salvation. His love continues to flow through the power of His Holy Spirit in the Church. His love doesn’t end at the doors of the Church but enters our hearts every day.

This is the love we depend upon for help and defense against our daily war with temptation and the devil. This is the love that will embrace our soul when we turn our attention to God. This is the love that ‘remembers’ us. Being remembered by God is something special.

These words, “Remember, O Lord,” are more than just a request for God’s attention. It is a prayer for an intimate relationship between creature and Creator. When God ‘remembers’ us we are safe from all harm and destruction. When God ‘remembers’ us we are with Him in heaven.

You can’t ‘go wrong’ by asking God to remember you. This is just another blessing when we offer the prayers given to us by the Church in Orthros. Even in our absence, the Church is always looking out for us asking God to ‘remember’ us.

The only thing left is for us to ‘remember’ God not just when we are in trouble. Another benefit of Great Lent is our annual reminder that God is waiting with His over-the-top love and grace. Maybe we forgot about it before. Now, maybe we can remember.

Happy praying.