"Convert Us, O God..."

From "A Gathering of Spiritual Riches" by St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

We do not see whatever is covered by a curtain or veil. Thus, we do not see the sun when it is covered by clouds. We do not see a person who is covered by a kerchief or clothing. We do not see things located behind a curtain, and so on. Thus, a kind of curtain hangs over the eyes of every unrepentant sinner, every fornicator and adulterer, every plunderer, thief, and bribe-taker, every liar and cheat—in a word, every shameless person, and it is as though a kind of veil hangs over the eyes of the soul and hinders it from seeing what good things it is being deprived of, and how it is headed for bitter perdition. It is headed into a ditch, and does not see it, and will fall into it if it does not take heed. Satan, the enemy of mankind, arranges this curtain and veil for those people who live carelessly, do not heed the Word of God as a lamp to our feet, and abandon prayer, without which any person is blind; he arranges it so that they do not see their perdition. This curtain or veil is taken away when a person turns to God with a true heart. Then he will see his calamitous situation and his ruination. Then he will comprehend where he was and how he was going astray. Then he will begin to sigh, weep, and sob. Then, as if wakening from sleep, he will begin to walk as he previously did. "Therefore He says:

"Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light' (Eph 5:14). "Convert us, O God; show the light of Thy countenance, and we shall be saved" (Ps 79:4).