While the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is the preeminent liturgical service of our Church, the Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian is the preeminent personal, lenten prayer of our Church. Our Church encourages all members to say it each day.

Why does this prayer occupy such an important place in our Church during this time? Probably because it articulates the negative behaviors that we are called to eliminate in our lives and then sets forth the positive behaviors we are called embrace in our lives. This prayer clearly outlines the process of metanoia. It provides us a roadmap for our lenten efforts.

Ephrem’s prayer tells us to eliminate such things as slothfulness, discouragement, vain talk and, of course, ambition. This prayer then suggests that we develop: humility, patience and neighborly love. And finally the prayer asks God to help us become aware of our weaknesses, faults and, especially, our natural tendency to judge others.

When you think about the contents of this prayer you realize that it presents not only the characteristics that need to be eliminated but also the characteristics to be developed in order to truly be a follower of Jesus and, therefore, a child of God.

Permit me to say a few words about the negative characteristics that are to be eliminated. The first negative behavior is sloth. In our modern world we seldom hear about this attitude. It is an attitude that convinces us that we (1) do not need to change, (2) are unable to change, and (3) don’t have to change. Of course this plays into our disposition that says that change is difficult and therefore to be avoided.

This human attitude leads to faint-heartedness or despondency, causing a person to feel that it is virtually impossible to achieve anything good or positive. It results in what is known as pessimism.

Another attitude that we are encouraged to eradicate from our lives is ambition or lust of power. It usually finds it’s expression in a desire to control and dominate others and it supports, in particular, egotism and selfishness. When we are convinced that we don’t need to change, we become self-centered.

The final attitude we are called to eliminate is idle talk. This attitude uses one of humankind’s greatest abilities, that is the ability to talk, to hurt others. Recall what St. John Climacus said about idle talk. It       supports sloth, despondency and lust for power and distorts life!