Theology belongs to the church, and theology leads to worship. And this means that worship includes prayer because it adores and shows reliance on God. Prayer is, therefore, theology put to work. As an example of theology put to work, here is a prayer to God that serves as a form of public worship. In this prayer of adoration, God is praised for his indescribable light and is adjured to share his light.
Light from Light, God from God, almighty Pantocrator. What great love brought you to earth to lie in a crib as a helpless babe? Yet it was for us and for our salvation. It was because you so loved the world that you became weak for us.
By becoming weak, you made us strong.
By becoming poor, you made us rich.
And after assuming the veil of flesh, you gave us the Spirit.
When you entered into the darkness of life, you became the light that enlightens everyone.
You are the light of the world. You gave us the "light of life." And it is only in your light that we see light. And that light is divine life.
You showed us this when you transfigured before Peter, James, and John. Show me what you showed them through your illumining light of life, your gift of the Spirit.
When you return, take my corruptible and mortal flesh and make it incorrupt and immortal. Yet even now, let me walk in obedience as part of your incorrupt and immortal body. Be my head and direct your body to the light.
Do not let darkness shade my steps. Shine brightly upon them.
You are the radiance of the Father's glory. As the sun shines rays to earth, so do you shine divine life from the Source. From the Father, you bring light. From the Father, you have divine life. He granted it to you. Now share it with me. Let me be united to you as you are united to the Father. Make me one as you are one.
When you created the world, you said "Let there be light" and it was so. When you recreated me in the image of your Light, you said the same. Now because of the Spirit I see your light in the face of Christ. That light buoys me from one level of glory to another.
Moses hid the glory from Israel because they were unable to bear the fading of your glory. But now we have unfading glory in the face of Christ. And you have made me worthy to receive that glory by the blood and resurrection of the Light. So show me your glory so that I may gaze its beauty.
If I say, "I walk in the light," do not let my confession fail me. I never want to walk in darkness. I only want to walk in light. For you are light and in you there is no darkness. How can I then walk in darkness and be in you? I would be a liar and the truth would not be in me.
Give me divine light. Make me virtuous. Make me worthy of the indescribable gift that I have by grace and not by works. From this kingdom of darkness, you have brought me into the city of light. Let me be a light on the hill as a citizen of your luminous city.
The world is shadow, you the brilliant reality. But though the heavens will be rolled up, your word "let there be light" will never fade. Darkness fades when you appear, bright morning star.
When you return in marvellous light and robes whiter than white, then I will be with you. We will know each other. When grief and tears have gone away, I will know you in the heavenly city which needs no natural light. For you will enlighten the city and its inhabitants.
Bring me to you. Show me yourself by illuminating the darkness in my vision. Let me walk in your light, see in your light, and hear in your light. I want nothing to do with darkness, only you. Let your face shine upon me and let your peace by mine.
You are mine, and I am yours.
Light of Light, God of God, only Begotten of the Father.
