Verses on Various Occasions · Chapter
Morning explained
The speaker rises at dawn, dedicating the day to God as a sacrifice, renouncing darkness and passion, and seeking the Lord's guidance on their path.
What happens
The speaker rises at dawn, dedicating the day to God as a sacrifice, renouncing darkness and passion, and seeking the Lord's guidance on their path.
Themes in this chapter
Faith and Doubt
The speaker's prayer expresses a firm faith in God's guidance, while acknowledging the potential to stray.
Sin and Redemption
The speaker offers the day as a sacrifice, renouncing darkness and passion, seeking to avoid shame and remain in God's grace.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The speaker who rises and prays, offering the day as a sacrifice.
- Lord
Addressed as the one to whom the speaker prays for guidance.
- Gregory Nazianzen
The source of the morning prayer, from whom the chapter is adapted.
Key passages
“I rise and raise my clasped hands to Thee! Henceforth, the darkness hath no part in me, Thy sacrifice this day;”
I get up and pray to You; from now on, I reject evil and dedicate this day to You as an offering.
The speaker begins the day with a prayer of dedication and renunciation of darkness.
“Abiding firm, and with a freeman’s might Stemming the waves of passion in the fight;— Ah, should I from Thee stray, My hoary head, Thy table where I bow, Will be my shame, which are mine honour now.”
Remaining steadfast and with the strength of a free person, I resist the surges of desire in the struggle; but if I wander from You, my gray hair and the altar where I kneel will become my disgrace, though they are now my pride.
The speaker resolves to resist temptation, fearing that failure would turn his honors into shame.
“Thus I set out;—Lord! lead me on my way!”
So I begin my journey—Lord, guide me along my path!
The speaker asks for divine guidance as he starts the day.