Akathist to Jesus
Light to Those in Darkness
archpriest lawrence r. farley
ancient faith publishing chesterton, indiana
Akathist to Jesus, Light to Those in Darkness
Copyright © 2005 Lawrence R. Farley
First edition published by Alexander Press, 2005
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Published by:
Ancient Faith Publishing
A Division of Ancient Faith Ministries 1050 Broadway, Suite 6 Chesterton, IN 46304
Cover icon: Flickr/Jim Forest
ISBN: 978-1-944967-33-8
Printed in Canada
Dwelling in the Darkness
Eventually, everyone comes to dwell in darkness. Sooner or later, disaster strikes all the children of men, and we suffer heartbreak, loss, bereavement, and pain. It may come dramatically with a doctor’s announcement, saying that he has some bad news from the test results, or it may come unexpectedly with a visit from a policeman, saying that a loved one was involved in a tragedy. Suffering may come with divorce, or trouble with erring children. It may come as chronic pain from a debilitating disease; it may come as a depression that will not lift. One may suffer a loving friend and support moving away, or one may move away oneself, finding isolation in a strange and bewildering new place. Pain may come from a broken romance, or loneliness from failure to find a life partner. But eventually, everyone comes to dwell in darkness.
It is just at that time that we need to turn to Jesus, the one and only Light of the world and the only rescue for those in the darkness of pain and despair. When we pass through those times of pain that wring the heart, we are called not to break down but to break through. Just as there is a sound barrier, so there is a kind of praise barrier; we break through the darkness by offering praise to God. Praise at such times is not offered as the fruit of a contented and happy mood. Such praise is not the result of a feeling. It is offered in the teeth of feelings of pain and in spite of the emotional numbness such feelings of pain can bring. Such praise is offered to God as a pure act of obedience, as a naked act of the will. It comes from a place deep down, from the heart that lives beneath the daily swirl of feelings. Such acts of praise are acts of defiance through which we defy the darkness and confess our faith in God, who lives above this vale of tears and who calls us to Himself.
That is why, perhaps, such praise breaks through. When we are able to praise God in such circumstances, we are acknowledging that we are not the center of the universe, and that our pain and loss, though personally difficult, have not displaced the cosmos or changed the
faithfulness of God. Like Job looking to God as He appeared to him out of the whirlwind, we lift our eyes from ourselves to behold the Lord and find a whole new perspective and peace. We acknowledge that although our life is temporarily in tatters, God remains on the throne, and He will make it all right—either in this age or the next.
The following akathist, then, is offered and dedicated to all who sojourn in the darkness, with the prayer that they will use such praises as this to break through. When we are so troubled that we cannot speak (Ps. 77:4), here are some words to speak. For God is on the throne, judging righteously, and He makes all things work together for good for those whom He calls—even for those who, just for now, are called to dwell in the dark. Jesus is the Light to those who sojourn there. By His Spirit, we can defy that darkness until He brings us into His glorious light.
Copyright ©2005 by Lawrence R. Farley. All Rights Reserved. Published by Ancient Faith Publishing.
Akathist to Jesus, Light to Those in Darkness
Konta KIon
1 (Tone 7)
Out of the depths of darkness and despair I cry to You, O Lord, You that hung upon the Cross in darkness. From the pit of pain and confusion, I lift up this prayer, and with all my heart I sing aloud to You: Jesus, light to those in darkness, glory to You!
i kos 1 (see Ps. 77)
In the day of my trouble, I seek You, O Lord, and in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying. My eyes find no rest from weeping, and I am so troubled I cannot speak. Yet as my spirit ponders in the night, I raise this song to You:
Jesus, rescuer of the abandoned!
Jesus, hope of those in despair!
Jesus, guiding star to the lost!
Jesus, joyful return of the exile!
Jesus, unforeseen victory!
Jesus, eternal triumph!
Jesus, radiant dawn after endless night!
Jesus, everlasting light of the Kingdom!
Jesus, wipe away my tears!
Jesus, calm the panic of my heart!
Jesus, exultation of those hemmed in by fear!
Jesus, joy of those crushed by sorrow!
Jesus, light to those in darkness, glory to You!
Konta KIon 2 (see Ps. 88)
OLord God of my salvation, I have cried out to You day and night. My soul is full of troubles, and my life has drawn near to Sheol. I lie in the depths of the pit, in the regions dark and deep; my friends and those who love me are removed far from me, and my companions are in darkness. But by Your grace, I defy the darkness, and I declare Your saving help in the land of forgetfulness, crying aloud, Alleluia!
i kos 2
Sorrow has isolated me from all those around me, and neither can I feel Your love, O Lord. I walk about in the light like one forsaken among the dead, like the slain who molder in the grave, whom You remember no more. But You are the One who performs wonders for the dead and whose steadfast love is declared in the grave. Trusting in You alone, I make known Your wonders:
Jesus, comforter of the bereaved!
Jesus, consoler of the dying!
Jesus, liberty of the imprisoned and forgotten!
Jesus, companion of the divorced and abandoned!
Jesus, grant peace to a heart in turmoil!
Jesus, work through me to touch others in pain!
Jesus, calmer of storms!
Jesus, haven of the voyager!
Jesus, resurrection for those whose children have died!
Jesus, serenity for those in chronic pain!
Jesus, promise of final triumph!
Jesus, possession of invincible peace!
Jesus, light to those in darkness, glory to You!