From the prayers of matins in the Orthodox Church:
I am like the man who fell among thieves, O Master of all, for I have fallen among my sins and have been cruelly wounded by them. Yet leave me not without healing, O Lord who camest not from Samaria but from the pure Virgin. Jesus, Name that means salvation, have mercy upon me.
From vespers this evening:
Through the sin of long ago, we have lost the joys of Paradise and are brought down to a life shame. Stripped of holiness and virtue, sunk in sin, we have fallen among thieves; straying from Thy saving teachings, we have become half dead. Yet we entreat Thee, Master born of Mary, who with dispassion hath shared in our passions: bind up our wounds that come from sin, and pour upon us in Thy love Thy boundless mercy and Thy healing care.
Comment: Even when life seems at its best, we are deficient, and there is no paradise on earth we can enjoy. Paradise lost is addressed in the very moments before our Lord's death upon the Cross in His promise to the Good Thief, who is our example: we steal by taking and enjoying things we assume we are entitled to without giving humble thanks.
Reading, St. James Daily Devotional Guide, April 4, 2011:
"There is great gain in godliness with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world; but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs." (1 Tim. 6:6-10)
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