God’s Timing

When we pray to God we normally include requests for our needs. We need peace. We need health. We need many things that God can grant to us. We also have many wants. We want a better job. We want better relationships, and we want everyone now, but God may not agree. It isn’t easy…

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When God Calls

Something about which we can all agree, is that living the Christian life is not easy. It requires faith, discernment and constant effort to remain true to God’s calling. One of the hardest, in my estimation, is learning how to hear God when He does call. In those days, at Caesarea there was a man…

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Our Work Must Go On

Shortly after the Resurrection ‘experience’ of the Apostles, it was clear there was more work to be done. Instead of ‘just’ sitting around celebrating the Lord’s Resurrection, they realized their purpose. Judas had killed himself, so the Apostles replaced him with Matthias. There was more work to accomplish. I feel the same way today. We…

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These Saving Days

Our 2025 Daily Lenten Journey comes to an end today with a review of why it all matters. We have been fasting for weeks now. We have been diligently making our prostrations in front of our icons. You may not have been paying attention, but it was all for a our salvation. I saved my…

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Grant us Master Rest for Body and Soul

With only two days left in our Daily Lenten Journey, today we conclude our review of the prayers of Great Compline. Following the prayer in front of the Theotokos, our attention is directly in front of the Icon of Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ. And grant to us, Master, as we depart for sleep,…

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Spotless and Unstained Virgin

As we wind down our 2025 Daily Lenten Journey on Prayer, today we turn our attention to the final prayers of Compline. These prayers are common to both the Small Compline and Great Compline, so they seem fitting to begin the wrap up of our journey. Toward the end of Compline two faithful readers come…

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Great Compline Prayer Three

Not every prayer is long, but every prayer is important. The shortest prayer is only one word, Amen. Some prayers are so long we struggle to remain attentive. Our Daily Lenten Journey has been reviewing all sorts of prayers, long and short. Today’s prayer isn’t long, but it is powerful. O Master God, Father Almighty,…

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Great Compline Prayer Two

Many weeks ago, even before we began our Great Lenten Journey, the Church prepared us with the Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee. One saved and another not. One filled with pride and another who could not even lift his eyes to heaven. We return there today. Today’s prayer reads like the ‘extended version’…

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Great Compline Prayer One

The final service our Daily Lenten Journey will review is unique to Great Lent. Although the Small Compline is ‘part’ of our regular evening prayers as individuals, the Great Compline is ONLY offered during Great Lent, and it is offered normally in the Church. The term ‘compline’ is a translation of the Greek word meaning…

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