As we moving to the middle of the Great Lent, we embark upon a sacred journey—a spiritual marathon that leads us to the Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
This period is not just a time of fasting, but a blessed opportunity for spiritual renewal and personal transformation.
It is a time when the Church calls us to deepen our relationship with God, to purify our hearts, and to refocus our lives on the Gospel’s fundamental truths.
Great Lent is a gift from the Church, a spiritual oasis where we are invited to slow down from the distractions and demands of our daily lives to reflect, repent, and pray.
It is a time to remember who we are in the eyes of God, to acknowledge our weaknesses, and to seek His strength and guidance.
The prophet Isaiah reminds us, “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause” (Isaiah 1:16-17).
നിങ്ങളെ കഴുകി വെടിപ്പാക്കുവിൻ; നിങ്ങളുടെ പ്രവൃത്തികളുടെ ദോഷത്തെ എന്റെ കണ്ണിന്മുമ്പിൽനിന്നു നീക്കിക്കളവിൻ; തിന്മ ചെയ്യുന്നതു മതിയാക്കുവിൻ.
നന്മ ചെയ്വാൻ പഠിപ്പിൻ; ന്യായം അന്വേഷിപ്പിൻ; പീഡിപ്പിക്കുന്നവനെ നേർവ്വഴിക്കാക്കുവിൻ; അനാഥന്നു ന്യായംനടത്തിക്കൊടുപ്പിൻ; വിധവെക്കു വേണ്ടി വ്യവഹരിപ്പിൻ.
These words are as relevant today as they were when first spoken.
The call of the prophet is a call to transformation—a call to turn away from our sins and to embrace a life of purity and righteousness.
As Orthodox Christians, we are called to embody this message of Isaiah in our own lives.
We are called to a faith that is active, that is compassionate, and that seeks to bring about the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven.
This is not an easy task. It requires courage, commitment, and a willingness to step out of our comfort zones. But it is also a deeply rewarding path, for it is in serving others that we encounter Christ Himself.
They call us to a true fast, a fast that goes beyond mere abstinence from food, to a fast from sin, from injustice, from oppression—a fast that leads to action, to caring for the least among us.
Our journey through Lent should be marked by increased prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
These practices are not ends in themselves but means to draw closer to God.
Prayer deepens our relationship with Him, fasting strengthens our will against temptations, and almsgiving expresses our love for our neighbor.
Together, they help purify our hearts and renew our souls.
Let us embrace the discipline of the Fast not as a burden, but as a joyous opportunity for spiritual growth.
Saint John Chrysostom reminds us that fasting is a medicine. But this medicine, he warns, must be taken with care.
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For the fast to be effective, it must be accompanied by a sincere effort to reconcile with those we have wronged, to forgive as we seek forgiveness, and to love as Christ loves us.
As we journey through these Lenten days, let us keep our eyes fixed on the prize of the heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.
Let us remember the purpose of our journey: to arrive at the glorious celebration of Easter, having been transformed by our Lenten journey, closer to God, and more like Christ in our thoughts, our words, and our deeds.
May this Lent be a time of meaningful change, of spiritual growth, and of heartfelt repentance.
Let us approach this season with humility, with a desire to learn and grow, and with a commitment to follow Christ more closely.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and forever, unto the ages of ages.
† ¶uήҫhakoήam ᾏҫhȅἧ †
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