Honest Prayer
The Nativity Fast

Día 23 · The Nativity Fast

Wounded for Us (en inglés)

Por ahora, los textos de estas oraciones están en inglés. Solo publicamos en español las oraciones cuya traducción podemos verificar en una fuente ortodoxa publicada o en la Reina-Valera 1909.

“Surely he has borne our sickness and carried our suffering; yet we considered him plagued, struck by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed.”Isaiah 53:4-5

Reflexión (en inglés)

It may seem strange to read about the suffering Servant while preparing for a birth. But the Orthodox icon of the Nativity sets the birth in a dark cave that recalls the cave of his burial, and shows the infant wrapped in bands that recall burial wrappings, often lying on what looks like a stone tomb rather than a wooden manger. The Child is born to die for us and to rise again. Isaiah saw him from far off: carrying our sicknesses, pierced for our transgressions; by his wounds we are healed. Christmas and Pascha are one mystery of love.

Una oración (en inglés)

Lord Jesus, you were born to give your life for us. I cannot look at the manger without seeing the Cross. Thank you for bearing my sickness and my sin. By your wounds, heal me. Amen.

Llévalo contigo (en inglés)

Look closely at an icon of the Nativity this week. What do you notice?

Día 24: Rain upon a Fleece