A Glimpse of Lent

Today is the Wednesday before the Great Fast and as part of our final pre-Lenten preparation the Church offers us a glimpse of what is to come. The services for today are Lenten services although we are not yet actually in Lent. It’s nice to experience how the Church gradually eases us into the Great Fast. We began the fast from meat this week, but no other fasting is yet expected. Even today the Church allows us to eat dairy, fish and oil which will not be the case next week once the Great Fast has begun. The readings for today speak of the future and our need to return to Christ, which has been and will be the continual theme of the Triodion and the Great Fast.

Here are today’s readings...

Joel 3:12-21 (RSV) - Let the nations bestir themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the nations round about. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.  Go in, tread, for the wine press is full.  The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision!  For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.  The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. And the Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shake.  But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel. "So you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who dwell in Zion, my holy mountain.  And Jerusalem shall be holy and strangers shall never again pass through it. "And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the stream beds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord and water the valley of Shittim. "Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the people of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.  But Judah shall be inhabited for ever, and Jerusalem to all generations.  I will avenge their blood, and I will not clear the guilty, for the Lord dwells in Zion."

Joel 2:12-26 (RSV) - "Yet even now," says the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments."  Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil.  Who knows whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, a cereal offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people.  Sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants.  Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, "Spare thy people, O Lord, and make not thy heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations.  Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'" Then the Lord became jealous for his land, and had pity on his people.  The Lord answered and said to his people, "Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations. "I will remove the northerner far from you, and drive him into a parched and desolate land, his front into the eastern sea, and his rear into the western sea; the stench and foul smell of him will rise, for he has done great things. "Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things!  Fear not, you beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit, the fig tree and vine give their full yield. "Be glad, O sons of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord, your God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication, he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before. "The threshing floors shall be full of grain, the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.  I will restore to you the years which the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. "You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you.  And my people shall never again be put to shame."

It’s What You Don’t Do that Matters Most

On the Third Sunday of the Triodion, known as “Judgment Sunday” in the Church, the Gospel of Matthew 25.31-46 teaches one of the well known Parables of the Last Judgment. In the story we hear the words, “When did we see you...” both from those in heaven and those in hell. For those in heaven, Jesus says, “I was hungry and you fed me...etc.” and for those in hell, He says, “I was hungry and you didn’t feed me.”  In truth neither actually saw Jesus, so what really is this Gospel story about?

As part of the Triodion and the Church’s effort to inspire us to change our lifestyle during Great Lent, we are reminded that how we treat other people, especially the poor and needy, makes a difference in how we experience eternal life. For those who were experiencing heaven, their life was filled with love and service for others. For those in hell, although they were willing to serve Jesus Christ, when it came to others in need they were unwilling to recognize the need to help. Our Great Lenten journey, which begins in just eight days, will be affected in how we recognize our relationship with others.

In this parable, those in heaven were there not because they did anything incorrectly or acted in a sinful manner. The way the parable plays out, they actually didn’t DO anything at all, and that was the problem. By doing nothing, they kept to themselves when others were in need, in effect not living as human beings. We are only authentic human beings when we are in a relationship with other human beings. When we love, it is because we act with love toward another human being. Anything other than love toward another human being is self-love which leads to hell. This is why those who were unable to see Jesus Christ “in” those in need were experiencing hell.

So what can change? ... WE can change.

We have been given the opportunity by God, today, to change our lifestyle and live with love toward others rather than with self-love. We have been given the opportunity during Great Lent to change the way we look at our fellow human beings, and I’m not just speaking about our fellow Greeks or members of the Church. If we want to find ourselves in heaven, in the end, then we will be able to “see” Jesus Christ in the face of every human being. We will be able to recognize the need for our help for those who are hungry, homeless, sick, or just down on their luck. We will be able to reach into our pocket and rather than seeing only ourselves, see the needs of others. But we will never see Jesus “in” others so long as we are focused on ourselves.

Great Lent offers each of us a unique blessed opportunity to accomplish both. We are invited by the Church to both change our inner soul through prayer and fasting AND change the way we love others by reaching out and helping those in need. In fact we are only saved in both our internal efforts and our external acts of love. How does prayer and fasting help us reach out to others? As Saint John Chrysostom teaches...

When we truly fast, we learn to be without. When we learn to live without, then we learn to not want for much. Then, without being so focused on our “wants” we can truly see the needs of others and serve them with genuine love. We will then see Jesus “in” the others rather than seeing others just as a group of people needing things we would rather keep to ourselves. It is when we do nothing at all that neither our inner soul nor our external actions glorify God. It’s when you do nothing that we will find ourselves in hell.

Fight Against Hypocrisy

As we approach the end of the second week of the Triodion and the Sunday of Judgment, it would be good to consider the question of hypocrisy. Looking back over the past few weeks we remember the great journey from sin to salvation of Zacchaeus, the Tax Collector, and the Prodigal Son. We can see in each of those stories also the warning against hypocrisy. The Church continues to send the message, “Don’t be like....those guys over there. BE like Christ.”  With Judgment Sunday around the corner, I invite you to read both today’ readings in the context of your tendency toward hypocrisy. We are all tempted to think of ourselves as better than the others. Of course it doesn’t help matters that so many Christians have chosen to categories sins as “not so bad” “bad” “really bad” and “OH BOY THAT’S REALLY REALLY BAD” when in truth ALL SIN IS THE SAME. Take a moment and read today’s readings:

Epistle Reading: St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy 2:1-10 (RSV) - TIMOTHY, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hardworking farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as preached in my gospel, the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a criminal. But the word of God is not fettered. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory.

Gospel Reading: Luke 20:46-47; 21:1-4 (RSV) - The Lord said to his disciples, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes, and love salutations in the market places and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers.  They will receive the greater condemnation."  He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury; and he saw a poor widow put in two copper coins.  And he said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had."  Having said this, he proclaimed, "He who has ears let him hear."

We are encouraged to beware of scribes not because we are better than the scribes but exactly because it is so easy for us to become just like they are. We are reminded that athletes will not be crowned as victorious if they do not compete not because we have already won the race, but exactly because many of us so easily want to avoid the race all together and simply be escorted into heaven as champions.

Great Lent is about growing closer to Christ through repentance. It is about realizing that WE are sinners and hypocrites and often untrustworthy witnesses to the love of Christ. It is about following Christ into heaven. He is the example. He was lied about, spit on, arrested without (and convicted and executed) without cause. He was perfect God and all these things happened to Him. The greatest hypocrisy would be to think we are above the same challenges that He faced. 

Before it’s Too Late

As we begin our second week of the Triodion, the Church brings our mind to the coming end. Most of us live as if there will be no end, or at least that the end won’t be coming any time soon. The Church however is constantly reminding us that we must be prepared for the end which can come at any time. We will sing the hymn, “Behold the Bridegroom comes in the middle of the night, and blessed is he who He finds being vigilant.” (Holy Week Bridegroom Matins) Young people have a long history of acting indestructible by performing death-defying acts. But much worse than our physical danger is the risk we place our souls when we ignore the coming end. Consider today’s Epistle Reading:

St. John's First Universal Letter 2:18-29; 3:1-8 (RSV) - Brethren, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that it is the last hour.  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out, that it might be plain that they all are not of us.  But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all know that I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and know that no lie is of the truth.  Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?  This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.  No one who denies the Son has the Father.  He who confesses the Son has the Father also.  Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you.  If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father.  And this is what he has promised us, eternal life. I write this to you about those who would deceive you; but the anointing which you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that any one should teach you; as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you, abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.  If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that every one who does right is born of him. See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.  The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.  And every one who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Every one who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.  You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.  No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him.  Little children, let no one deceive you.  He who does right is righteous, as he is righteous.  He who commits sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning.  The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Yesterday the Church reminded us of the Parable of the Prodigal Son who had wasted everything. He finally came to his senses realizing the seriousness of his situation. He was able to return home before it was too late. Will you?

Go Nowhere Except Where I tell You

I read a book a few years ago which has helped me, even though the book is not a spiritual book, to confirm just how serious our spiritual warfare is for our times. In the book, “Generation Me” the author details her understanding about social trends in America today. She writes from within the generation about which she evaluates. I personally recommend the book. It came to my mind today in connection to today’s Gospel Reading:

Matthew 10:1, 5-8 (RSV) - At that time, Jesus called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity.  These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  And preach as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.  You received without paying, give without pay."

There is a portion of the book in which the author comments that even our so-called service hours, so much of which is mandated by school during formative years, is self-serving to the point that I would suggest brings no spiritual benefit at all. If in our service to others we only serve where WE WANT to serve, then we are quite frankly being served rather than serving.

When you consider that Christ commanded the disciples “Go nowhere...[except where I tell you]” He is reminding us that when it is only when we serve truly sacrificially that we gain any spiritual benefit. God knows who is prepared to hear His words and who will reject them. God knows who is willing to follow Him and who will walk away.

Where does that leave us today at the end of the first week of the Triodion? Great Lent will only be a blessing to us if we are able to get over ourselves. Tomorrow we will hear the Parable of the Prodigal Son. It was only when the Prodigal Son finally got over himself that he was able to return and be welcomed back by the father. It was exactly because the so-called loyal son couldn’t get over himself that he was unable to experience the blessings of the Father.

A Spiritual Journey

The period known as Triodion begins the annual journey as Orthodox Christians. It isn’t a journey to the beach or the ocean, but a spiritual journey during which we are invited by the Church to change our lives and live in Christ. The Orthodox Christian life isn’t just a series of rules which must be followed because they are rules. The life of the Church is about changing our lives and changing the way we view our relationship with God. We are much further from God than we think. The first Sunday of the Triodion, the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, sets us on our way with a reminder....the rules don’t get you to heaven. Our opportunity this year is to reconsider our life and follow the example of the tax collector. We are far away from God and we need His mercy in our life.

A Journey

Today we begin a journey. I wouldn’t call it a new journey since we take this journey every year, but a journey to a new place. Today we begin a special season the Church calls the “Triodion” and it is a journey to Great Lent. Beginning today, the Church invites us to consider the condition of our soul as we take this spiritual journey. The Church invites us to consider first if we want to join Christ in heaven, and second if we are willing to take the necessary action required of a believer in Jesus Christ. This journey is a three week (four Sunday) journey toward Pascha.

Our first stop along the journey today is the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee, through which the Church calls us to humble prayer. “God be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Luke 18.13) In this Parable our Lord compares two well known realities of people. One humble; the other not. One knew, and followed all the religious rules; the other not. One saved; the other not. Through this comparison the Tridion prepares us for Great Lent by asking us to look inside our heart with tough questions.

Do we think we are better than others?

Do we think our sins are less important than others?

Do we think lives are better examples of holiness than others?

Do we think our sins separate us from God?

Do we think our sins have control over our future?

Do we think our sins need to be forgiven by God?

How you answer these questions will affect the way you spend the next several weeks between now and Pascha. If you answer by comparing yourself to how others are so much worse and act so much worse than you, then you will lose the opportunity that awaits you on this year’s journey. If you answer by saying how your life is so much better than others, then you will lose the opportunity the Church offers you on this year’s journey. If you already think you’re holy, then you have already lost the chance to grow closer to God during this year’s journey.

If on the other hand you realize that your life isn’t as close to God as you originally thought, or that you wouldn’t dare to even look up to heaven for fear He may see into your heart, then lucky for you, this year’s journey will be just in time. CONGRATULATIONS! You have already learned the lesson of true Christian humility. If you are willing to accept that you are a sinner that needs to repent (change your way of viewing the world) then you have already won the battle to invite God to life in your heart.

This year’s journey is familiar because you are invited to travel each year, but have you ever accepted the Church’s invitation to join her on the path to Pascha? Have you ever accepted that, despite or how good you may think you already are or how sinless you may think you already are, we all have a long way to go to become like God.

Get Justice for me from my adversary

As we prepare for the beginning of the Triodion, which begins tomorrow, I wanted to spend a few moments on our relationship with each other and God. If we are going to benefit at all from the coming season of Triodion and Great Lent, then we best consider what God is REALLY offering to us. When we hear the Holy Scriptures we must remember they are never JUST stories. They are life. Consider today’s Gospel reading:

"There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. "Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' "And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 'yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' " Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? "I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18.2-8)

For us to receive the full benefit of the Triodion and Great Lent, we need to understand what type of justice and adversary Jesus is speaking about in this parable.

Let’s start with adversary. Our only real adversary in life is the devil who never stops trying to distract us from God. He will never stop trying to temp us into falling away from faith. He will never stop trying to confuse us with his trickery. He isn’t known as “ο πονηρός – the cunning one” for nothing. He is our true adversary. All others we encounter are brothers and sisters many of whom the devil has tricked into fighting against us. We may “feel” their attacks but it helps to remember the words of Psalm 50 “Against You, You only have I sinned, and done that which is evil in Your sight” If our sin is only against God, then everyone else’s sin is also only against God. We may fell the physical affect of the sin, but that is because someone else fell to temptation. The real adversary is the devil and today’s parable is a promise that God will “avenge” us “speedily....but will He really find faith on the earth?”

Now let’s look at justice. If we aren’t supposed to look at our brothers and sisters as the adversary, then what sort of justice is Jesus talking about? Normally we think of justice as punishment being handed down from a court bench. We often demand justice for victims of crimes. Since the adversary is the devil, what sort of justice could God have planned? God came that “you may have life” (John 20.31) but the devil wants you to die. It all goes back to Genesis. Knowing that God had warned Adam and Eve that death would follow if they ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, the devil said to Eve, “You shall not die.” (Genesis 3.4) WE WERE TRICKED into believing we wouldn’t die.

The same thing takes place every time we are confronted with temptation. We are tricked into thinking our actions cannot hurt us. But they often cause us great pain, both physical and spiritual. Our annual journey through the Triodion and Great Lent is an opportunity to refocus our attention on God rather than ourselves.  The sort of faith that God wants to see in us when He returns is our desire to live rather than die. But the life God desires for us, the sort of faith He expects from us, is not about earthly life which is focused upon our pleasure, but heavenly life which is focused on God.

If we are willing and able to journey through the Triodion and Great Lent with this understanding, the many parables and teachings the Church brings to our attention will bring us closer to God. As we grow closer to God, the devil will lose more and more. He won’t stop trying, so we can’t stop fighting, but the devil will lose this battle. We will get justice. Have a blessed journey.

What is Your Plan for Salvation?

In just two weeks we will again begin a spiritual journey as Orthodox Christians. Our annual journey toward Pascha will begin February 5^th and come to a grand conclusion on Sunday, April 16^th when we will celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. But long before we can celebrate we have some preparations to focus on. Long before we can see the Lord on Pascha we need to get ourselves ready today. If we want to see Lord, we need to plan ahead.

With Christmas and Epiphany in our rearview mirror, today the Church gives us a glimpse of what is to come. Today the Church draws our attention to a short man who “sought to see who Jesus was.” (Luke 19.3) We know him as Zacchaeus a rich tax collector who climbed a tree to see Jesus because he was short. This Gospel is read each year two weeks before the Triodion begins. When you hear about Zacchaeus, you know the Triodion and Great Lent is just around the corner. But it is never just a story. The Church invites us to learn from Zacchaeus for our journey that is about to begin. What are we asked to learn?

• Zacchaeus was a sinner and was lost.
• Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus.
• Zacchaeus planned in advance to see Jesus.
• Zacchaeus put his plan into action to see Jesus.
• Zacchaeus saw Jesus.
• Zacchaeus heard Jesus call out to him.
• Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus into his home.
• Zacchaeus gave half of his wealth to the poor.
• Zacchaeus repaid all the people he stole money from by four times.
• Jesus came to save the lost.
• Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house.”
• The crowd didn’t want Jesus to visit Zacchaeus.

With the Triodion only two weeks away and Great Lent, I invite you to replace the name “Zacchaeus” with your name. Then go back and read the story and ask yourself...

• What is my plan to be saved by God?
• How will I put my plan into action?
• How will I welcome God into my heart and home?
• How will I repent for my sins?
• How will I respond when the crowd doesn’t want me to see Jesus?

Remember....

• The Church is the Body of Christ.
• The Church is here to help you answer these questions.
• Trust the Church.

Take Heed and Watch

Today’s Gospel Reading: Mark 13:31-37: 14:1-2 - The Lord said to his disciples, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.  But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come.  It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.  Watch therefore -- for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning -- lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.  And what I say to you I say to all: Watch."  It was now two days before the Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth, and kill him; for they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be a tumult of the people."

It seems many Christians have forgotten this warning from our Lord. His words will not pass away, and yet many live as if what He commanded is no longer in effect. Greed, oppression, sexism, pride and the rest of the passions are running wild in our world, yet many Christians seemingly have forgotten that Christ is returning at an unknown moment to judge our hearts and actions. This is why He warns, “Take heed, watch; for you do not know when the time will come.” Many of us spend our day as if there is no judgment coming. We see the coming night not with fear of judgment, but with anticipation for what we can still enjoy in the morning. In a few days the Church will commemorate the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. Are you ready to return to YOUR Father Who is in heaven? Something to consider on this fifth day of the Triodion.

Are you strong enough to last?

Today’s Gospel Reading: Mark 13:14-23 - The Lord said to his disciples, "When you see the desolating sacrilege spoken of by Daniel the prophet, set up where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; let him who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything away; and let him who is in the field not turn back to take his mantle.  And alas for those who are with child and for those who give suck in those days!  Pray that it may not happen in winter.  For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will be.  And if the Lord had not shortened the days, no human being would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.  And then if any one says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it.  False Christs and false prophets will arise and show signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.  But take heed; I have told you all things beforehand."

Triodion Day Three and the Church sends us another reminder of what is to come. Yesterday we were warned that we would be persecuted. Today we hear just how bad it is going to be. “If the Lord had not shortened the days, no human being would be saved.” It should come as no surprise the Church is shrinking. That much has been told to us. The question for us today, will we be strong enough to withstand the persecution and tribulation that is coming? The ONLY way for us to be prepared, or as prepared as possible, is for us to embrace the invitation of Christ, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Mark 8.34) If we insist on catering to our own desires, then the tribulation will be too much for us to bear. The ONLY way to be strong enough to hold off the temptation so far as it might be in our power to do so, is to fully embrace the live the life that Christ has called His Church; prayer, fasting, almsgiving, the sacraments...the life that has (as we will be reminded on the First Sunday of Lent) established the universe.

I hope you're ready for Great Lent

Today’s Gospel Reading: Mark 13:9-13 - The Lord said to his disciples, "Take heed to yourselves; for they will deliver you up to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear testimony before them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say; but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved."

Day two of the Triodion and the Church is already reminding us of what is to come if we are genuine followers of Jesus Christ. We cannot escape the trials and persecution of the world, so best look ahead to Great Lent and prepare to dedicate our souls to God in everything we do. And WHEN, not if but when, we are mocked for taking our faith too seriously because we refuse to go to a party during Great Lent, or WHEN our friends decide it is more important to go drinking rather than spend time with us because we are spending more time in prayer, or WHEN our coworkers don’t understand why we can’t get together for drinks Wednesday after work because we will be in Church....just remember “But who endures to the end will be saved.” Get ready for Great Lent.

Almost Home

Today is the first day of the Triodion, a three week period leading up the Great and Holy Lent. For me today always arrives with a sense of relief like that feeling you have when you’re almost home from a long trip. You know....that feeling of relief when you land at the airport after a long trip away from home. You know not quite home yet, but you’re so close your entire body reacts with relief.

For me the Triodion has that same feeling. As human beings our soul’s home is with God. Ever since God breathed the breath of life (Gen 2.7) each human soul knows its home belongs to God. Our journey through life of sin and distraction brings us further from home. As we approach Great Lent, which is a period dedicated to restoring our soul to a relationship in communion with God, our soul knows it is returning home.

The Gospel reading for today: Luke 18:10-14 - The Lord said this parable, "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.'  But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

For me this reading reminds me that my soul needs to return home. Unless we realize that our life is not what it should be, or that our soul is not where it should be, we will never consider the Great Lent as a journey home. But...when we understand our sinfulness, as the tax collector did, then we welcome the longer and additional Church services, strict fasting and dedicated prayers as the chance for our soul to return home. In the meantime, the beginning of the Triodion reminds us that we’re almost home. It won’t be long now.

You Can’t See God without a Little Planning

When Jesus was coming to town, Zacchaeus wanted nothing more than to see Him, but he was short a large crowd had surrounded Jesus. Zacchaeus knew that Jesus would pass by soon, and he had to come up with a plan if there was any hope of seeing Jesus. So he made a plan. He planned to climb a tree so, even if the crowd was large, he would be able to see Jesus. And Jesus took notice. “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” (Luke 19.5) His plan worked; he saw Jesus.

There will always be obstacles in your life getting between you and Jesus. We call those obstacles temptation and sin, but with a plan, you can overcome them, climb above them, and join Jesus in Heaven. When Zacchaeus acted upon his plan to see Jesus, he received something more. Jesus came and stayed with him, and we call that communion. Only when you make a plan to climb above temptation and sin will you be able to commune with God.

Today you have a chance to look ahead and make a plan to experience communion with God. Soon the Church will begin the season of Triodion and Great Lent, and unless you make a plan from now, you will find yourself too busy, with too many obstacles between you and God, to make the most of Great Lent. Consider this year your chance to climb the tree, and make the most of Great Lent so you can see God. Then when Pascha comes and God arrives, He will look at you and say, “I must stay in your heart today.” And you will welcome Him into your heart just as Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus into his home, but it will only happen with a little planning. So start planning.

Forgiveness isn’t an Action; Forgiveness is an Experience

The Gospel lesson for the final Sunday of the Triodion, known as Forgiveness Sunday, begins with the words, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6.14-15) With these words, the Church crosses the threshold of Great Lent urging us to experience the freedom that is forgiveness.

When we normally think of forgiveness, we think of an action that WE do for others. We normally think of forgiveness as a “one-way” street from one mind to another. But a “one-way” street leaves no chance for returning to our heart for the healing that is only possible with genuine forgiveness. It isn’t accidental that the Greek word which has been translated as forgiveness, “συγχωρώ” means, “to come in together into our heart,” and requires a relationship between two people. By necessity it is an experience made possible when two people agree to enter into a common place of the heart.

In the moment we decide to allow others to join us in our heart, is the moment that we truly live as Christ, Who welcomes us not only into His heart, but into His Divine eternal embrace. When God chose to forgive us, He invited us “to come in to His Being” and experience the most intimate reality of His love, because forgiveness isn’t an action. Forgiveness is an experience.

It Doesn’t Matter WHAT You Serve....It Matters WHOM You Serve

On the Third Sunday of the Triodion, known as “Judgment Sunday,” the Church offers us a glimpse at the future judgment. “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.” (Matthew 25.31-32) At that moment, we will not have any other opportunity to prepare ourselves. We will not have any other opportunity to correct any mistakes. At that moment, WE WILL BE JUDGED! The Judgment is coming, and cannot be avoided.

Thankfully, Christ has already given us the criteria He will use in our judgment. We will be saved from eternal torment based upon whether or not we have served Jesus Christ by serving OTHERS. Thankfully, Christ has already helped us understand, that when we serve OTHERS, we serve Him. Thankfully, Christ has already made clear for us, that it is only when we can see Him in the hungry, naked, thirsty, stranger, sick, and in prison, that we can be saved from eternal torment. Thankfully, Christ as prepared us now, because we won’t have time later.

With Great Lent only one week away, the Church is calling us, and calling us loudly; to remind us that we have only the time we are alive in which to prepare for the judgment that is coming. Great Lent is an opportunity for us to prepare for judgment with devout prayer, fasting, repentance, and serving OTHERS. Great Lent is a time for us to realize that it doesn’t matter what you serve, but WHOM you serve.

Absolute Freedom

Saint Paul reminds us, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful.” (1 Corinthians 6.12) In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, we hear of a father who allows his youngest son to waste his inheritance on loose living with harlots until the son was completely broke and starving. While the son took advantage of his father’s generosity and wasted his life and fortune, the father never stopped loving his son and never stopped waiting for his return. It wasn’t until the son “came to himself” (Luke 15.17) and returned home in repentance, that the father was able to restore the son to his original glory. How many times do we take advantage of the freedom that God has given to us? How many times do we find ourselves living a life that God would not approve? Until we can return to Him in repentance, He cannot save us. Absolute freedom can be a dangerous thing.

Don’t Confuse Permission with Approval

On the second Sunday of the Triodion, the Church calls our attention to the Parable of the Prodigal Son, and the beauty of repentance. In the story, just to remind you, the younger son felt that he deserved his inheritance early, before his father’s death. He approached his father and said, “Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.” (Luke 15.12) The father gave the son permission to take his inheritance and journey “to a far country,” in which he wasted every last penny on sinful living. In the deepest depth of sin and despair, the son realizes his mistake and chooses to return to his father and beg for a job. The father not only welcomes him home, he, “had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” (Luke 15.20)

While the son was away, the father waited and watched for him to return. He had given his permission for the son to leave, but never approved of the life the son had chosen to live. That is the love of a father, who knowing certain choices are wrong and dangerous, still allows his son to walk away from him. All the while, the son, thinking he was free from his father’s control, lived according to his own choices. But the father, while not approving of the son’s choices, never gave up hope for the son’s return.

God give us the same permission to live according to our choices. He doesn’t always approve of those choices, but He allows them hoping that we will choose to return to Him, as the Prodigal Son returned. With the coming of Great Lent, we are given an opportunity to CHOOSE to return to God’s way of life, and be restored to our original glory. But before we can return, we must first realize that just because God allows us choices, doesn’t mean He approves of the choices we make.

The Purpose of Great Lent

Great Lent is just a few days away, and the Church reminds us today of the purpose of the coming fast.

“Now, therefore," says the LORD, "Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." (Joel 2.12)

Though we have already begun our fast from meat, the Church still urges us to a deeper appreciation for the coming fast as a time for repentance. The themes over the recent weeks have caused us to reflect upon the condition of our hearts. We are not the human beings God desires us to be – NONE OF US – and the sooner we realize that we must repent and return to a Godly life, the better our hearts will be prepared to meet the Lord when He comes into His Kingdom.

Repentance is more than just a matter of our mind. It isn’t sufficient to merely stop hording our goods, we must share them with others. It isn’t sufficient to merely stop hating others, we must love them. It isn’t sufficient to merely say we forgive others; we must avoid the grudge in our hearts. True repentance requires a physical response to the Love that we CHOOSE to fill our hearts.

As the Prophet Joel continues…

So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. (Joel 2.13)

Are you ready for Great Lent? It’s almost time to begin your journey of repentance.

Amazing Grace

In today’s Gospel for the Tuesday of Cheesefare Week, which every year occurs on the Tuesday before Holy and Great Lent, the Church prescribes a rich Gospel lesson from the Mount of Olives. (see Luke 22.39-71, 23.1) The Church calls to our mind just how much grace God grants to us in our weakness. We hear of two accounts of His disciples being weak in the faith and what we might call spiritual stamina.

In the first case, we hear Christ praying in the garden while His disciples fall asleep. “Then He said to them, ‘Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.’” (Luke 22.26) We know the disciples fell asleep THREE TIMES before they finally awoke to the Lord being taken into custody by the guards. In the second case, during His trial, we hear Peter denying Him three times.

In both cases, His disciples were weak and fell into temptation. And in both case, Jesus forgives them. These are the same disciples who would become the Holy Apostles, and establish the Church with the authority of God. These are the same disciples who, though they followed Him for three years, still were not strong enough in their faith to bear with Him at the Cross. And Jesus STILL allowed them to grant the Holy Spirit to others through the laying on of hands.

God’s grace is revealed to us when we allow ourselves to trust in Him beyond all other things. God’s grace is poured over our heads when we allow ourselves to pick up our cross and follow Him. No matter how many times we may fall into temptation; no matter how many times we are too weak to stay awake and attend to Him; no matter how many times we deny Him; He is still willing to welcome us home into His Kingdom.

The Church offers us these lessons today as a preparation for Holy and Great Lent, a time of repentance and vigil. Great Lent will be upon us in a few days, and we will grow tired of fasting, yet we must stay awake. We will want to deny knowing Christ, yet we must be willing to suffer ridicule from others “just because” we are spending additional time in Church. And when we engage Great and Holy Lent to its fullest, then we will feel His grace, and what amazing grace it is!