Lent

One old tradition that seems to have survived the Church’s many schisms and reforms is the practice of singing The Song of Simeon (often called ‘Nunc Dimittis’ from the first two words of the hymn in Latin) towards the end of evening prayer. If we think back on the prayers we’ve reflected upon so far, … Continue reading Sweet Release: The Song of Simeon

I don’t need to tell anyone that we live in anxious times. A lot of people are genuinely afraid right now, and not without reason. To put it mildly, as a rule, we don’t like fear. It is by definition deeply uncomfortable. But fear serves a purpose. It alerts us to danger and acts as … Continue reading Fear Is the Beginning, Not the End: A Reflection on John 3.1-17

Anyone who takes a lot of photos knows all about Golden Hour. It’s that time just before sunset (or after sunrise) when the light turns soft and warm, and hits everything at just the right angle to transform even the most ordinary object into something beautiful. At Golden Hour, the world seems a little bit … Continue reading Leave a Light On: Gladsome Light

There’s an old saying that when it comes to liturgical prayer, we pray what we believe. That is to say, if you want a sense of a people’s true theology, you don’t turn to theological experts, but to their communal prayers and rituals. I thought of this this morning as I was reflecting on next … Continue reading Prayer like Incense: Lord I Call

If Wisdom literature is all about understanding the world and our lives in a solid theological framework, we’ve seen to date that the Eastern Orthodox Vespers service finds itself squarely within the Wisdom tradition. So far we’ve seen it start with: a narrative reset in ‘the normal beginning’, which situates our cares and concerns within … Continue reading Walking in Wisdom: Blessed is the One