Throughout Great and Holy Lent, we are reminded that this is a special time of the year where each of us is called to look more deeply at our interior condition to assess our spiritual health and to stretch ourselves just a bit more in order to grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ. During this time we are given the divine medicine of God’s word through scriptural parables on successive Sundays that illustrates for us the path of repentance leading to salvation. In these parables, we are reminded ... [Read more]
Articles for Great Lent
Looking Beyond Behavior and Preparing for Great Lent
It can be a bit confusing. Sometimes we hear people say “seeing is believing,” yet at other times we hear “don’t always believe what you see.” We are also taught not to judge a book by its cover (actually we’re taught not to judge at all), but at the same time isn’t what we see what we get? When it comes to witnessing poor or even mean-spirited behavior in other people, we have the tendency to draw a quick conclusion that the person himself is not good. We connect the “what” with the “who;” in ... [Read more]
Faithful to What Is Right
As we approach the beginning of Great and Holy Lent, we are reminded that this is a special time of the year where each of us is called to look more deeply at our interior condition, to assess our spiritual health, and to stretch ourselves just a bit more in order to grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ. During this time we are given the divine medicine of God’s word through scriptural parables on successive Sundays that illustrates for us the path of repentance leading to salvation. In these ... [Read more]
Encyclical for Great Lent, 2012
“Let us keep the Fast not only by refraining from food, but by becoming strangers to all the bodily passions; that we who are enslaved to the tyranny of the flesh may become worthy to partake of the Lamb, the Son of God, slain of His own will for the sake of the world, and spiritually may celebrate the feast of the Savior’s Resurrection from the dead. So shall we be raised high in the glory of the virtues, and through our righteous actions we shall give joy to the Lord who loves humankind.” ... [Read more]
Tools for Great Lent
As I sit down to write this article, it’s hard to believe that Great Lent is just around the corner. It seems like only yesterday, we were in the midst of the Forty Liturgies of the Nativity Fast. I thank God for the Pre-Lenten Sundays, such as Zacchaeus, the Canaanite Woman, the Publican and the Pharisee and so on. These serve as a warm-up before the big game and also help us to sharpen our focus on the journey ahead. Great Lent is indeed a journey. It’s a journey of repentance, a journey ... [Read more]
