I fell among thieves by my reasonings,
I was robbed by my wretched mind.
Greatly stricken and wounded in soul,
Naked of grace, I lie upon the road of life.
The priest saw my hopeless wounds and passed me by,
the Levite knew my disease and turned away.
But in Thy love for man Thou wast pleased
To stoop down to me, O Christ God,
Not by the Road of Samaria,
But from the flesh of Mary.
Grant me healing by pouring out on me Thy great mercy.
from Vespers of the fifth week of Great Lent
I now lie wounded and lifeless,
As if I had left Jerusalem, the way of Thy Divine Commandments,
And had reached the Passions of Jericho,
Reveling in the impious glory of earthly pursuits.
As if my reasonings had become thieves
And robbed me of my garments of sonship by grace.
The priest came by, and seeing my corpse, passed me by;
The Levite too saw and departed.
But do Thou, O Lord, unspeakably Incarnate of the Virgin,
Bind up my wounds as if with healing ointment, O Christ God,
By the flood of blood and water which streamed Salvation
From Thy side. Join me to the heavenly choir,
Since Thou art compassionate.
from Vespers of the fifth week of Great Lent
I went down from Jerusalem, and I fell away from Thy commandments which
were written there for the nations. And as I went on my way to Jericho,
on account of my impetuous emulation of them who, of old, because of their
wickedness were by Thee surrendered over to be slain by Thy people, and
also because of my disobedience I fell into the hands of soul-corrupting
passions as though they were thieves. Wounded by them and well nigh put
to death, I cry to Thee, O Thou Who in Thy body wast, of Thine own will,
wounded by nails and by a spear for the sake of mankind's sins, and by
the Cross didst accomplish in Jerusalem the common salvation, heal me,
O Lord, and save me.
From Vespers of Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent.
Let us likewise deal kindly, let us persuade our adversaries of that
which is to their profit, "let us worship and lament before the Lord our
Maker." For we would not overthrow, but rather heal; we lay no ambush for
them, but warn them as in duty bound. Kindliness often bends those whom
neither force nor argument will avail to overcome. Again, our Lord cured
with oil and wine the man who, going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, fell
among thieves; having forborne to treat him with the harsh remedies of
the Law or the sternness of Prophecy.
St. Ambrose of Milan. Of the Christian Faith, Book II.
Used with the permission of Fr Seraphim Holland from
his website.
