Благодарение

Let us not reject, brethren, the grace of the Lord, who gives us strength to do good, but by doing good with this strength, let us continually thank the Lord. Thanks be to the Good One, who freed our race from slavery to the devil and death and reconciled us with the hosts on high, who were angry with us for our unrighteousness! The merciful [Lord] expects from us until we give reason to impart grace to us, so that we may be enriched with His great gifts, for behold, the treasure of His bounties is always open to us. He demands only thanksgiving from those who receive, in order to increase His gifts for the voice of thanksgiving. He shines His sun on the wicked, He sends His rain on the wicked, because there is no end to the abyss of His bounties. Bring, mortals, thanks to the Son, who delivered us from the slavery in which death for our sins kept us. He forbade death, descended into Sheol 7, and raised the dead from their graves. And who is able to repay Him for His goodness to our mortal race? Do You, Lord, need us to give You our treasures? What else do You want but for us to stretch out our hands and receive from Your healings, while in obedience we surrender our will to You. For all Your works shine with their crowns, with which Your wisest lips crowned them when You said: Behold, it is very good (Gen. 1:31). In everything we bless You for, we turn out to be Your debtors. The expressions of our thanksgiving are marked by poverty and are far from what You, anticipating us, gave to us.