The Shepherd, March 2008
About the Prayer:
Lord, Have Mercy
WOULD YOU LIKE to know the exact meaning and strength of these words? Pronounce these words for yourself and for many: Lord, have mercy on me. But at the same time call out like the ten lepers: Lord, have mercy on us. Pray for yourself, pray for all people.
I pray to Thee, Lord, for myself in ailments from birth: Lord, have mercy on me. Also for all people in ailments from birth: Lord, have mercy on us.
I am deceived by the world and have violated Thy life-giving Law: Lord, have mercy on me. Also for all those who like me, have violated Thy life-giving Law: Lord, have mercy on us.
Today, tomorrow I am your guest in this world. Then I will fade like a shadow and will be numbered with the reposed: Lord, have mercy on me. I also pray for all those who have reposed in the world: Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on those in power I beseech Thee, for they are threatened with the danger of becoming oppressors.
I beseech Thee, O Lord, to have mercy on those who have wealth, for they are threatened with the danger of becoming self-righteous.
I beseech Thee, O Lord, to have mercy on the poor and orphaned, for they are threatened with falling into despair.
I beseech Thee, O Lord, to have mercy on those who possess worldly knowledge, for they are threatened with idolizing themselves and forgetting Thee.
And for whomever, from those fallen asleep, from those that are living and those not yet born whom you glimpsed in your thoughts during prayer: Lord, have mercy.
And should you remember a person – your enemy, say: Lord, have mercy.
And the power embodied in these words as related by St Bartimæus: I was blind and was given my sight back.
The lepers will say: we were unclean and were made clean.
The possessed will say: we were insane and regained sanity.
The paralytic will say: we were ill and were made well.
The dead will say: we were dead and were brought back to life.
The Apostles will say: we were perishing in the storm and it became calm.
The repentant woman will say: I sinned and received forgiveness.
The thief on the cross will say: I was a criminal and was the first to enter into Paradise.
LORD, HAVE MERCY.
By Saint Nicolas of Ochrid
|
