Reflection on 9th Hour of Monday

As I stated previously, whenever I upload an office translation, such as this office that can be found here or the 'Office Text' page, I would like to write a reflection on the prayers. I find this hoosoyo to be an excellent summary of Syriac theology and the focus of God's majesty and mercy.

It is important when we pray that we read every word carefully because sometimes they come out of our mouths mechanically without comprehending what we're saying, particularly because we're address "He, the King of Kings and Lord of the Heavenly and Earthly." It should be emphasized and underlined that God is without equal and He owes us nothing. Syriac tradition makes this clearly evident through our worship. While some traditions may promise remission of sins for mechanical actions (i.e. you say 3 of these prayers, you'll be forgiven) we avoid a calculus of sin, hence why we do not make such promises. 

A particular item of imagery we meditate upon is our fear before the personage of God; often there is the imagery of standing before the judgment-seat of Christ, or as in this sedro, knocking fearfully at the door of God. This is to reemphasized that we are infinitely small and owed nothing. However, there is good news: although we are owed nothing, God grants us everything imaginable in His mercy. Just as the name of this blog (Beth Gazo - Treasury), we implore God's mercy which we alike to a vast treasury. Just like a rich, compassionate lord, God distributes from His plenty without compulsion other than His own love.

So how do we give an offering to the Lord if He has everything? "Lord, the soul that does not have that has sinned has offered You something great of their treasure in order to be better: accept two streams of tears like the coins of the widow, of which she had not but these." The office makes penitence likened to the widow who gave all she had to the Temple (Luke 21:1-4); while God has everything, He does not force our own penitence since one of His great gifts is free will, so that is something we can always offer up in sincerity.

One caveat in this, though, again pertains to God's lack of compulsion. God does not need to be merciful, but He does so out of love. However, just as the line in the boo'oto goes, "O Creditor, give encouragement and remission. If Your remission does not obtain it, it will make it die." The "it" is in reference to the soul of the debtor; just like the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:23-35) the Lord is a gracious lord like the lord in the story who forgives a debt to his servant that would've been worth 15,000 years of labor (obviously not humanly possible to work off). When a servant is called on by the same servant to pay 100 days of labor-worth back and asks for a bit more time, the servant who was forgiven has him thrown into jail. The master then sends the unforgiving servant to be tortured until his pays his debt (i.e. never). Analogous to the prayer we say so often, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." The same measure we judge others by will be used against us - the fact, though, is that God owes us nothing and we owe Him everything so if we lack mercy we will surely die a second death. Thanks be to God that His merciful is so bountiful and may He strengthen us to imitate His compassion to our brothers.

Our Lord, accept our service, our prayers, come to our aid and have mercy on us!