This web site contains copyrighted material and information which is governed under the following statute:
Click on the link below to read 17 USC CHP. 1. §107
20080304
The journey which is before us...that is Great Lent...
As I again prepare to enter into the Great Fast, I again realize that I am behind where I should be in my spiritual preparation for this wonderful time of year. What I mean by that is, like many others in the world, I have allowed myself to become too weighed down with worldly matters. The good news is that the Church realizes that most of us will be in this exact same position and hence that is the reason for the pre-Lenten Sundays on the Church calendar.
We began the Triodion on February 17th, and have moved forward through a series of red flags or warnings, if you will. Last Sunday, was similar to the green flag used in NASCAR racing; that being, the sign to all of us that the ‘race’ of Great Lent begins. This coming Sunday will afford us the opportunity to ask forgiveness of each other, and then proceed forward into the fast. With all this in mind we should ask ourselves what is it exactly that we need to enter the Great Fast properly.
First and foremost, we must realize that Jesus Christ, whose incarnation we celebrated just a few short months ago, came into this world to save creation and to bring us to the Father. Christ is our Lord and Savior, and he must be our example, our leader, and He must be our whole reason for being. We cannot approach Christ in a nonchalant manner hoping that we can somehow come in under the wire, or attempt to cut corners. We must seek to become members of the body of Christ not the other way around. When we become responsible members of the body of Christ, meaning God’s will takes precedent over our own; we have the first portion of our preparation completed. This first part need not be 100% perfect, for that takes a life time to achieve, if ever, and then it is ultimately only achieved through the grace of God. We must have the desire and dedication to Christ in place however. An example of this is in the Gospel of St. Mark; Christ heals an epileptic child that the Apostles are unable to heal. The father of that child is questioned by Christ as to the length and type of illness. The father of the child begs Christ to help in any way He can. Christ’s reply is: “If you can! All things are possible to him who believes. Immediately, the father cried out and said, I believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9: 23-24) It is this type of dedication to accept Christ that is absolutely required.
Secondly, we must be prepared to take up the cross that God has given each one of us. We must be followers before we can be leaders. The Apostles did not simply become the leaders of the Church over night. They followed Christ first, and continually, “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.” (John 12: 26) The apostles had to follow first and then lead. The apostles had to take up the cross and follow the Lord. “You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made know to you.” (John 16: 14-15) When we take up the cross of Christ we cease being servants and become the “friends” of Christ, we become at this moment in our lives known to the Father through Christ. At this point, we like the thief on the cross next to Christ, enter in to the death of Christ, enter in to the tomb of Christ, and ultimately will enter in to the Resurrection of Christ.
Finally, in this preparation for the Great Lent we must believe in the Resurrection of Christ with our whole mind, soul, and every fiber of our being. St. Paul tells us in his first letter to the Corinthians: “…we preach Christ crucified a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles.” (1 Cor. 1: 23) The crucifixion was not just an event; it was not just another execution. It is the payment for our sins; it is the redemption of the entire creation. Christ the only innocent one, the only blameless one, the only one who did not have to pay a price, paid everything for our sakes and our salvation. Without the Resurrection our efforts are for naught. We cannot save ourselves our redemption can only come from Christ.
With all these things in line, and our minds and souls focused, we can enter Great Lent prepared as best as each of us is capable, and then hope and pray for the grace of God to bless us and to preserve us now and always!
We began the Triodion on February 17th, and have moved forward through a series of red flags or warnings, if you will. Last Sunday, was similar to the green flag used in NASCAR racing; that being, the sign to all of us that the ‘race’ of Great Lent begins. This coming Sunday will afford us the opportunity to ask forgiveness of each other, and then proceed forward into the fast. With all this in mind we should ask ourselves what is it exactly that we need to enter the Great Fast properly.
First and foremost, we must realize that Jesus Christ, whose incarnation we celebrated just a few short months ago, came into this world to save creation and to bring us to the Father. Christ is our Lord and Savior, and he must be our example, our leader, and He must be our whole reason for being. We cannot approach Christ in a nonchalant manner hoping that we can somehow come in under the wire, or attempt to cut corners. We must seek to become members of the body of Christ not the other way around. When we become responsible members of the body of Christ, meaning God’s will takes precedent over our own; we have the first portion of our preparation completed. This first part need not be 100% perfect, for that takes a life time to achieve, if ever, and then it is ultimately only achieved through the grace of God. We must have the desire and dedication to Christ in place however. An example of this is in the Gospel of St. Mark; Christ heals an epileptic child that the Apostles are unable to heal. The father of that child is questioned by Christ as to the length and type of illness. The father of the child begs Christ to help in any way He can. Christ’s reply is: “If you can! All things are possible to him who believes. Immediately, the father cried out and said, I believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9: 23-24) It is this type of dedication to accept Christ that is absolutely required.
Secondly, we must be prepared to take up the cross that God has given each one of us. We must be followers before we can be leaders. The Apostles did not simply become the leaders of the Church over night. They followed Christ first, and continually, “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.” (John 12: 26) The apostles had to follow first and then lead. The apostles had to take up the cross and follow the Lord. “You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made know to you.” (John 16: 14-15) When we take up the cross of Christ we cease being servants and become the “friends” of Christ, we become at this moment in our lives known to the Father through Christ. At this point, we like the thief on the cross next to Christ, enter in to the death of Christ, enter in to the tomb of Christ, and ultimately will enter in to the Resurrection of Christ.
Finally, in this preparation for the Great Lent we must believe in the Resurrection of Christ with our whole mind, soul, and every fiber of our being. St. Paul tells us in his first letter to the Corinthians: “…we preach Christ crucified a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles.” (1 Cor. 1: 23) The crucifixion was not just an event; it was not just another execution. It is the payment for our sins; it is the redemption of the entire creation. Christ the only innocent one, the only blameless one, the only one who did not have to pay a price, paid everything for our sakes and our salvation. Without the Resurrection our efforts are for naught. We cannot save ourselves our redemption can only come from Christ.
With all these things in line, and our minds and souls focused, we can enter Great Lent prepared as best as each of us is capable, and then hope and pray for the grace of God to bless us and to preserve us now and always!
