Extreme Humility
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΜΕΣΩ ΗΜΩΝ! ΚΑΙ ΗΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΑΙ.
THE LENTEN PRAYER OF SAINT EPHRAIM THE SYRIAN
O Lord and Master of my life, Give me not a spirit of laziness, of aimless curiosity, A spirit of lust for power over others and of vain talk. Rather, grace me, Your servant, With the Spirit of purity, humility, patience and love. Yes, O Lord King, Grant me discernment to see my own faults, And not to judge and condemn my fellow human beings. For You are Blessed unto the ages of ages. Amen
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A Prayer for the Enlightenment of the Soul
(St. Augustine)
"O Lord, the Light of my soul, shine Your enlightenment upon me. As I stand now before You in prayer, shine Your Light upon me who am blind of soul, sitting in spiritual darkness and under the influence and power of death. Guide my works on the way of virtue, which brings peace, so that I may worthily approach the wondrous tabernacle, Your holy temple, the house of God, and there offer to You, with joyous voice, words of thanksgiving and doxology. For this doxology, when truly coming from the heart, is a way and a means by which I will first be able to turn away from the path of sin, and then directly return to You. For You are truly the Way that leads to Life. Amen."
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OUR LENTEN JOURNEY
(Department of Stewardship, Outreach and Evangelism)
Great Lent is a time for self-examination and self-denial-a time for taking control of our lives and our bodies. The purpose of the fast is to give us a greater awareness of our dependence on God. It is a time to improve ourselves and our relationship with God.
Lent is a time for greater works of mercy and charity for those less fortunate than us. It is a time for visitation of the sick and assistance to the poor, and generally a more joyful relationship with those who are close to us-our family and friends.
Most of all, Lent is a time of joy and a new beginning. We cleanse ourselves-mind, body and soul-through the physical and spiritual fast, keeping a Christian attitude in all that we do. All this is done to prepare us for the Great Feast of Pascha - the Resurrection of Christ.
REPENTANCE AND CONFESSION
Repentance has its roots in the Apostles. In the Book of Acts the Apostle Peter says, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:37-38)
When we fall away from God, we have removed ourselves from His communion-with Him and with other Christians. We have excommunicated ourselves. To re-enter communion with God is the on-going activity of all Christians. We fall away daily in some way or another. No one is exempt.
Often, when children play in competitive games, one will call out "that's a do over!" Haven't we all wished for that chance to undo the past and start over? Repentance offers us this new beginning.
We are telling God that we have changed our mind about our past direction and want to be back in communion with Him. The Greek word for repentance, metanoia, implies a very deep change in the way we see ourselves, our world, and our relationship to God. To change our mind in repentance is the starting point in our Lenten journey. We leave behind regret as we move toward hope. Repentance is not a single action but an attitude, a frame of mind.
Think back over your life of things which you regret having said or done-hurtful, inconsiderate, selfish, deceitful. Think also of those things which you have done which may not have directly affected others, but which you know to be wrong according to the teachings of the Church. Bring them to mind as if they were occurring right now. Think of how it would have been if you had acted differently. Take this regret and turn it into repentance. Acknowledge that you have offended another person or the Church, and in doing so you have offended God.
If we are to be forgiven by God, He requires of us that we also forgive one another. For many of us, this is the most difficult aspect of repentance and confession. Yet we say it each time we pray the Lord's Prayer, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."
Just as God's love for us is personal, so must ours before Him. As the Christian grows from child to adult, his or her personal response to God becomes crucial. This personal response is the act of confession.
FASTING
The fast for the forty days of Lent is indicated below, though many are not able to hold to the strict fast. We offer the following guidelines to be considered prayerful with the guidance of your spiritual father and in consideration of any medical condition or dietary requirements.
STRICT FAST
No Meat, Fish, Milk, Dairy Products,
Oil, or Oil Products
PALM SUNDAY
Fish, Oil and Wine permitted
FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION/MARCH 25TH
March 25th-all day: Fish, Oil and Wine Permitted
Shellfish are permitted throughout Great Lent
JESUS' INSTRUCTIONS ON FASTING
"Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when your fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father Who is in the secret place; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you openly." (St. Matthew 6:16-18)
SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM ON FASTING
"Do you fast? Give me proof of it by your works. If you see a poor man, take pity on him. If you see a friend being honored, do not envy him. Do not let only your mouth fast, but also the eye and the ear and the feet and the hands and all the members of our bodies. Let the hands fast, by being free of avarice. Let the feet fast, by ceasing to run after sin. Let the eyes fast, by disciplining them not to glare at that which is sinful. Let the ear fast, by not listening to evil talk and gossip. Let the mouth fast from foul words and unjust criticism.
For what good is it if we abstain from birds and fishes, but bite and devour our brothers? May He Who came to the world to save sinners strengthen us to complete the fast with humility, have mercy on us and save us.
PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, present in all places and fillings all things, the treasury of blessing and Giver of life: come and abide in us. Cleanse us from all impurity, and save our souls, O Gracious Lord.
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PRAYER
"Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ." (Saint Paul's letter to the Philippians)
One key to a more fulfilling life is prayer. For Orthodox Christians, the aim of prayer is to enter into conversation with God. Prayer is sometimes referred to as dialogue with God. Often it is a waiting on God in silence. In the church it is defined as the lifting of the nous and heart to God, and also as walking in the presence of God. We turn our nous (soul) and thoughts toward Him. We mentally gaze at Him and speak with Him in reverence, fear, and hope. At times we speak to Him with words and other times we stand in reverend silence, saying nothing, but being aware of His presence. In this dialogue with God we praise Him and thank Him. We ask Him for what we need. Our mind and our heart are opened to Him. Prayer is not only repeating words, it is trust in God that He hears and directs us in His Way involving spiritual growth and development.
PRAYER OF SAINT EPHRAIM THE SYRIAN
(To be read each week-day during Great Lent)
O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou, unto the ages of ages. Amen.
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HOLY COMMUNION
The Sacrament of Holy Communion, the Eucharist, which literally means "Thanksgiving," is the Mystery whereby the bread and wine of offering are changed, actually, not symbolically, into the very Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. The Eucharist is at the very center of the Church's life, and from it flows the prayer of believers in a sacrifice of entreaty for the peace of the world, for all those who ask for help, and for all men and women "The Holy Eucharist unites us in the most intimate fashion with the Lord; it nourishes our soul and body, and aids our strengthening, increase, and growth in spiritual life. According to the promise of the Gospel, "He that eats this bread will live forever." (The Gospel of St. John 6:58)
The cup which holds the wine that becomes the Blood of Christ is the chalice, the cup of salvation. When we kneel during the Divine Liturgy, we pray with the priest that God the Holy Spirit may change the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus (the consecration). This means that when we receive Holy Communion, Jesus comes to live in us.
How do we prepare to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus? We pray. We should have love in our hearts for all people. We should ask forgiveness from God and from our parents, brothers, and sisters, and from anyone we may have hurt.
When we come before the priest for Communion, we make the sign of the cross, tell the priest our baptismal name, hold the Communion cloth (μάκτρον) under our chin, and open our mouth wide. After receiving, we wipe our lips with the Communion cloth, make the sign of the cross, and hand the Communion cloth to the person behind us.
Once we have received Holy Communion, we must remember that we have become one with Christ and with all those fellow Christians who received Communion with us. Christ now lives in all of us. We are all living icons of Jesus. It is by loving one another that we love Jesus. After receiving Holy Communion our bodies become holy chalices. God lives in us!
Jesus wants to use our hands, which have now become His hands, to help those in need. When we receive Holy Communion, we become members of Christ's Body, the Church. This means that Jesus has no eyes but our eyes, no feet but our feet to do His work in the world today. What kind, thoughtful act will you do for Jesus today?
BIBLE READING
In private study, when a Christian profitably reads the Holy Bible, receiving inspiration and strength from it, family members, friends, relatives and even acquaintances will inevitably notice the difference. Any person who comes into contact with such a Christian cannot but notice the growing peace, love and inner assurance-the spirit of Christ-in that Christian, and will frequently ask (if not ask, certainly think) what gives that person such strength and radiance. God will provide many opportunities to the growing Christian for sharing with others his or her experience with the Holy Bible. What better witness for the truth of the Christian faith than a solid Christian life nourished by Holy Scripture and radiating true Christian love at home, at Church and at work? The Christian's own life becomes a kind of gospel, a living Bible, in which other people observe, read and experience the truths of God in action. (From Bread of Life, by Fr. Theodore Stylianopoulos)
SUGGESTIONS FOR FAMILY BIBLE READING:
Set aside a regular time for daily reading preferably in the evening at the supper table when the whole family is together. When the children are young, mom or dad can do the reading. When the children grow older, they may share in the reading. Reading to children is one of life's greatest joys. Children treasure it.
Don't read too much or too fast. One chapter a day is sufficient. Let what you read sink in slowly. If children are young, read from a Bible story book-one that has pictures which you can show the children.
Start with the biographies of Jesus (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John).
Read with the faith and the expectation that God will really and truly speak to you through what your read.
Don't worry about the passages you do not understand. Concentrate on what you do understand. The more you read, the more you will understand. One passage explains another.
Each day memorize at least one verse that grips you. Say it out loud as a family three or four times. Encourage your children to fall asleep with this verse on their lips.
Get a translation your children understand.
As your read, try to have an icon of Jesus before you if you are reading the Gospels; one of Saint Paul if you are reading his epistles (letters), etc. This will help you realize who it is who is speaking to you. (From Making God Real in the Orthodox Home by Fr. Anthony M. Coniaris)
May God bless you and guide you, and may you reach your Paschal destination with the joy of renewed faith in Christ.
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George