Vigils Reading

From a Homily of Isaac the Syrian ¹

Let us shun the body with all our strength, surrender our souls to God, and in the Lord’s name enter into the arena of temptations. May he that preserved Joseph in the land of Egypt and showed him forth as an icon and exemplar of chastity, who kept Daniel unharmed in the lion’s den and the three youths in the firey furnace, and who delivered Jeremiah from the pit of mire and bestowed mercy upon him in the camp of the Chaldeans, and who brought Peter out of prison while the doors were shut and saved Peter from the synagogue of the Jews and, to speak simply, he that always continues with his servants in every place and country, who manifests his power and victory in them, who preserves them with manifest wonders and who reveals his salvation to them in all their afflictions, may he give us strength also, and rescue us from amid the waves that encompass us.

Let us, therefore, acquire zeal in our souls against the devil and his commissaries even such as the Maccabees had, and the holy prophets, apostles, martyrs, the righteous and the just. For these men proved allies of the divine laws and the commandments of the Spirit in fearful places and amid grievous tribulations. Mightily did they put the world and the flesh behind their backs and persevere in their righteousness; and they were not overcome by the perils that encircled both their soul and body, but courageously they took the victory, and their names are written in the book of life until the coming of Christ. By God’s decree their teaching has been preserved for our instruction and strengthening, as the blessed apostle testifies, that we might become wise and learn the ways of God, and keep their histories and lives in view as living and breathing icons, and take our example from them, and run their course, and make ourselves like unto them. The words of God are as sweet to the soul possessed of great understanding, as food that delights the body; and the histories of the righteous are as desirable to the ears of the meek, as continual watering to a newly planted tree.

1A Word in Season – vol. VIII – Augustinian Press – 1999 – pg 245