The Prayer of St. Ephraim: Five Podcasts

Archives from the "Our Life in Christ" radio program

“Our Life in Christ” was a live Orthodox radio broadcast on a Protestant Evangelical Salem radio station in Phoenix, AZ for several years. It was the only non-Protestant program on the station. The broadcast was to introduce the Orthodox church and its spirituality to an Evangelical audience in an irenic, friendly, Biblical way without compromising the dogma and traditions of the Church.

This was a series we did on the meaning of the season of Lent and the Prayer of St. Ephraim as the compass of Lenten (and Orthodox) spirituality as taught and lived by many of the Desert Fathers of the Church.

The Purpose of Lent

Why Lent? Why fasting and spiritual disciplines? Why “liturgical seasons” and observing days and times? Are they “necessary for salvation”?

The Prayer of St. Ephraim Part One: O Lord and Master of My Life

Quotes from the Desert Fathers: Humility as the foundation of all virtues. Falling into pride, delusion, the place of “struggle” in the spiritual life. Sloth and despair/despondency and the sin of meddling as the spirit of our age.

Prayer of St. Ephraim Part Two: Lust for Power and Idle Talk

The temptation to “be like God”, knowing good from evil, controlling our world, self-will, and domination of others. Those who irritate and oppose us are our instructors in learning humility. Inability to endure silence: we have to fill empty space with ourselves and our “voices” by foisting ourselves on others as unbidden teachers, arrogant in our opinions.

Prayer of St. Ephraim Part Three: Adding the Virtues - Chastity

Synergy and the Holy Spirit as the source of virtue in us. Chastity is the integration of body, soul and spirit in Christ, a holy place for God to dwell. Lust is not just porn but also the desire for power and glory etc. No sin is private because your brokenness is taken into every relationship.

Prayer of St. Ephraim Part Four: Humility

Humility is not just an “attitude”, it is bodily work, manifested in action. Doing humiliating work, washing feet, shutting up, not seeking the spotlight by boasting or showing off. Prelest is spiritual pride, imagining yourself as closer to God than others and presuming to teach, guide others, and the pursuit of praise, recognition, and doing good deeds to be seen. False humility: “Don’t be so humble, you’re not that great…” We don’t discern where spiritual experiences come from and end up in pride and prelest.

Prayer of St. Ephraim Part Five: Patience, Love and Not Judging My Brother

Patience is a purposeful interaction with other people to make them know they are human beings in the image of God*** and being willing to wait on God in peace with thanksgiving. Real theology is summarized in St. John (the Theologian/Apostle) “God is love”. Eros, Romeo and Juliet stories are a glimpse into the divine romance and passion for God. Judging is falling for the first temptation: “You will be like God, knowing good from evil”. How to regard a person who is sinning and not judge them.

A blessed Lenten season to all my readers!

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***Trinitarian Anthropology program referenced in Part 5: HERE