January 25, 2012

Dear beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

It seems we have just celebrated the Nativity of our Lord, His Baptism, and on February the second, will celebrate His presentation in the Temple. How time flies. Now we stand once more at the beginning of the Great Fast. The opportunity is given to us once more to allow ourselves to grow closer to the Lord.

This Sunday of Zacchaeus, while not officially seen as one of the  “Sundays of Preparation of the Great Fast,” could be, in that Zacchaeus' desire to see the Lord as He moved through the streets of Jericho, overcoming any and all obstacles -- even to the point of climbing up a tree -- reveals a truth for ourselves. We must have within ourselves that same desire, to seek out the Lord, allowing nothing to stand in our way. We must not be concerned of what the world, friends, co-workers, and, yes, even at times family members might think. The Lord Himself makes it very clear: (Matt.10:37-38) “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” These words spoken by our Lord clearly inform us that our first desire must be the Lord himself. This desire can and should help us enter into the “Sundays of Preparation” in a correct frame of mind.

The first “Sunday of Preparation," the Publican and the Pharisee, we are shown true repentance and encouraged to follow humility, and not the puffed-up-by-pride as expressed by the Pharisee. The second Sunday, the Prodigal Son, we are reminded that not only must we see our faults and repent, but importantly, to act. The prodigal son, coming to his senses, makes that journey back home. We must do the same, coming to our senses, journey back to God’s love and forgiveness. The third Sunday, Meatfare/Last Judgment, we are told by the Lord how He will judge each person: their actions towards others. (Matt.25:40-41) "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." The fourth Sunday, Expulsion of Adam from Paradise/Forgiveness Sunday, the theme is the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden. How they could not obey just one Commandant of God in Paradise, to fast from the fruit of a particular tree.? Therefore all of mankind, since Adam and Eve fell through their disobedience, has found themselves born in a fallen world. We are reminded by our Lord how to fast: (Matt.17-18) "When you 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." Most importantly, we are told by the Lord that forgiveness is a must. (Matt.25:14-16) "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."

As we begin this journey as individuals and as family to draw closer to the Lord, let us call upon the Lord with all our heart and soul to give us the strength to desire, in all humility, forgiveness of one of another and show the world that we as Orthodox Christians, and members of St. Anthony the Great, have heard the words of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ.  Praying and Blessing each and everyone a blessed Lent,

            Fr. Leo