On St. Matthew's Feast

God is great
God is great
God is great and merciful
God is great and merciful
God is great and merciful, and does not want to see His creation separated from Himself.

There is an ancient and beautiful prayer to accept this truth. It comes from the Gospels. It is not pretentious, nor self-important.

Lord have mercy on me a sinner
Lord have mercy on me a sinner
Lord have mercy on me a sinner

There have been numerous modifications on this most sublime prayer. One such modification I have received from St. Basil the great.

Lord have mercy on me the greatest of all sinners
Lord have mercy on me the greatest of all sinners
Lord have mercy on me the greatest os all sinners

Why do I bring this up now. Because I have a certain affinity to St. Basil. I know that the above is true not only for him, but for me and all of us. Further he said something just and wonderful in his prayer before receiving the Eucharist. and highly fitting for the feast of St. Matthew: it was,

Lord accept me into Thy bosom; even as Thou accepted the publican, the prostitute, the prodigal, and the thief.
Lord accept me into Thy bosom; even as Thou accepted the publican, the prostitute, the prodigal, and the thief.
Lord accept me into Thy bosom; even as Thou accepted the publican, the prostitute, the prodigal, and the thief.