“I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste. He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love” (Song of Songs 2:3)
In a lovely frequently sung service to Christ Jesus, the Akathist [in Greek not sitting], the Orthodox Church celebrates our love for our Savior in a series of fourteen stanzas, the constant theme being one of praise, honor and glory to the Lord. If we were to analyze the meaning of the service I should suggest that it’s therapeutic. When sung, it fills our souls with confirmation of all that is good, right and holy in Christ and in us. Or better stated, in the Christ within us. It’s a prayer that accentuates all that is uplifting and positive in our awareness of God’s care for us, for all humans and indeed all creatures on God’s earth. There’s not space or place for pessimism, pity, despair or defeat. The prayer presupposes a Christian filled with joy just for living, and one who is in touch with the Holy Spirit deep within his or her soul.
In referring to the Savior as “Sweet Jesus,” one might protest that it’s too intimate, something one lover might say to another. Or it’s too cute, like a mother cooing to her infant and gushing all over the child. Those comments aside, I sense that we all grasp what the Church intends in this poignant phrase. Rather than reject the two criticisms, we would agree that indeed Christ is the Bridegroom, and we are not being feminine even if we are male to take our place in the Bridal chamber, which is the Church that He gave His life’s blood to redeem. And as for the infancy reference, that too should be imbedded in the memory banks of each of us, especially those who had the good fortune to have been born of a loving, caring mother who cooed and pampered us from our very first day in this world.
I’m reminded of a delightful tradition of our Balkan brothers and sisters. Upon entering the home of a Serbian, Macedonian, Greek or Bulgarian family, one is greeted by a host or hostess with a tray on which is a bowl of honey or some other sweet substance, a spoon, and a glass of water. One is expected to put the spoon in the honey, take a taste, drink from the glass and thank the family member. How glorious a custom, to make the initial meeting of a stranger one of sweetness, so that he or she will forever remember that here is a home where good things are brought to the guest. The gesture needs no explanation. Every newborn in any part of the world recognizes immediately the pleasant taste of sweet things. We have four basic tastes: Besides sweet, there are sour, bitter and salt. Only the first tastes good as is.
And what is sweeter than Jesus? He inspires us to become the salt of the earth, He comes to us at our lowest moments when we are soured by a world that has hurt, mocked or crushed our hopes, and He teaches by example never to become bitter when we are disappointed by others or crushed by their cruelty:
Sweet Jesus Christ, Jesus long-suffering, heal the wounds of my soul, O Jesus, and sweeten my heart, I pray, merciful Jesus my Savior, that being saved I may magnify You
...Sweet Jesus open to me the door of repentance, O Jesus, Lover of mankind, and accept me as I bow before You and ask forgiveness of my sins, O my Savior
...Sweet Jesus rescue me from the hand of the evil archer; Jesus, make me stand at the right hand of Your glory. Deliver me from the lot of those on Your left, O my Savior
(Akathist Hymn to Jesus Christ)