In the night

Είδομεν το Φως το αληθινόν,
ελάβομεν Πνεύμα επουράνιον,
εύρομεν Πίστιν Αληθή
αδιαίρετον Τριάδα προσκυνούντες,
αυτή γάρ ημάς έσωσεν.

We have seen the Light the true,
we have received Spirit heavenly,
we have found Faith True,
undivided Triad worshiping,
for She us saved.

Literally, somewhat awkwardly in English translation, the sung testimony of my heart awakened me in the night, to heal the ligaments torn by the over-exercise of the will, the zeal of unwisdom, the factiousness of unfriendly friendship.

I now know for sure where the True Church lives, how it lives, why it is True, what Faith makes it true, what Light shines on it, in it, from it, and to it, Who it is I have believed in, what has been done to me and by Whom, and where my only Home is.

It is as the desert father has said, ‘Love is God.’ It is as the holy beloved evangelos of the Divine Word has proclaimed, ‘God is love.’ It is where, and only where, true peace and good will among men is, and can ever be, found. The True Church.

Of the Redeemed, of the Free, of those who do not eat the flesh of their brothers, whose fast is pure without fasting, whose wills are One, whose mind is One, in One, for One, to One, in perfect harmony, who do not rely on words written on paper, or unwritten.

The voice of strife does not disturb their rest, who have entered already into the peace of the Saints, who have paid the Cost of discipleship with acts and words of healing, whose Bread is to do the will of their Father who is in heaven, hidden from the world.

I thank you, Father, for hiding the True Church from the worldly wise, who rely on their own strength, their own wisdom, their pride of life, their standing on what they think is the Word of God but which is not the Foundation that no one can lay, because You have laid it.

I thank you, Christ, for You have saved us, beyond the works of men, for You have gone to prepare a place for us, You have returned with mansions, how deep, how broad, how high, in which we can dwell, whom the Father has drawn to You, the True Church, beyond war.

I thank You, Spirit, for where You are there is heaven, there is the paradise of the Saints, even now, where among us is the tabernacle of the Most High, where none can enter who have taken strong drink, but whose Drink You are, the True Light, the True Faith.

Now I know for sure, Holy, Unearthly, Divine Triad, where true Life alone is, true Fellowship, true Friendship, true Home, true Welcome and true Love, without name and number, beyond counting, weighing, beyond all human judgment.

Yes, Lord, and again I say ‘Yes,’ and I thank You, again and again, for Life Eternal, for the Light the True Light, for the Spirit the Heavenly Spirit, for the Faith the True Faith, for the Church the True Church, for that You, Undivided Triad, have saved us. We are Yours.

Miktam of David.

Look after me, God, I take shelter in You.

To Yahweh you say, ‘My Lord,
You are my fortune, nothing else but You,’
yet to those pagan deities in the land,
‘My princes, all my pleasure is in you.’

Their idols teem, after these they run:
shall I pour their blood libations?—not I!
Take their names on my lips?—never!

Yahweh, my heritage, my cup,
You, and You only, hold my lot secure;
the measuring line marks out delightful places for me,
for me the heritage is superb indeed.

I bless Yahweh, who is my counselor,
and in the night my inmost self instructs me…

Yes, in the night.