New Testament

worthy

/ Eric Mathews / 1 Comment
Worthy of praise from every mouth,
worthy of confession from every tongue,
worthy of worship from every creature,
   is your glorious name,
   O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
For you created the world in your grace,
   and by your compassion you saved the world.
To your majesty, O God,
   ten thousand times ten thousand bow down and adore,
   singing and praising without ceasing, and saying:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts;
   heaven and earth are full of your praises.
Hosanna in the highest.

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Glory to Christ

/ Eric Mathews / 1 Comment

Church of Saint Jacob in Nisibis where Ephrem the Syrian ministered

I give you glory, O Christ, because you,
   the Only-begotten, the Lord of all,
   underwent the death of the Cross
   to free my sinful soul from the bonds of sin.
   What shall I give to you, O Lord,
   in return for all this kindness?
Glory to you, O Lord,
   for your love,
   for your mercy,
   for your patience.
Glory to you,
   for forgiving us all our sins,
   for coming to save our souls,
   for your incarnation in the Virgin’s womb.
Glory to you,
   for your bonds,
   for receiving the cut of the lash,
   for accepting mockery.
Glory to you,
   for your crucifixion,
   for your burial,
   for your resurrection.
Glory to you,
   for your resurrection,
   for being preached to men,
   for being taken up to heaven.
Glory to you
   who sit at the Father’s right hand
   and will return in glory.
Glory to you
   for willing that the sinner be saved
   through your great mercy and compassion.

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without you I am nothing

/ Eric Mathews / 1 Comment
I call upon you, O God – you who created me,
   and who did not forget me when I forgot you.
Let me know you – you who are the only one
   who truly knows me.
Come into my soul,
   because you are the power that makes my soul live.
Make me fit to belong to you,
   because that is my only hope.
Enter my heart,
   because by inspiring me to long for you,
   you make me ready to be your bride.
When I was far from you,
   you persuaded me to listen to your voice
   and turn back to you.
I called to you for help,
   but all the time you were calling me to yourself.
You blotted out all my sins,
   instead of punishing me as I deserved.
I was nothing.
You had no need of me.
Even now my service had not even the value
  of a labourer tilling his master’s land,
because even if I did not work,
  you would bring forth the same harvest.
I can only serve you and worship you
  with the good that comes from you.
It is from you alone that I receive my strength,
  and without you I am nothing.

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loving reflection

/ Eric Mathews / Leave a comment
Loving you, O God,
   brings its own reward here on earth,
   as well as the eternal reward of heaven.
And failure to love you,
   even when we can offer a thousand excuses,
   brings its own punishment.
By becoming mirrors of your love,
   by wearing the mask of your likeness,
   and by allowing you to make us perfect,
   we can know the joy of heaven,
   even while we abide here on earth.
Our consciences are sullied by our many sins;
   cleanse them,
   that we may reflect your infinite goodness.

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