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A
message from Bishop John Elya Annunciation
Cathedral |
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A
message from Bishop John Elya Annunciation
Cathedral |
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DIOCESE OF NEWTON
Eparch's Lenten Message, 2003
(To be read from the pulpit and/or to be distributed with the weekly bulletin)
The
Great and Holy Lent is upon us. With it come both an invitation to grow and a
challenge to change through prayer, fasting, and good works. Lent is a time of
grace. Lent is a time of preparation. Lent is a time of joyful sacrifice and
prayer.
In the early Church, there was a certain expectant faith that in many ways we
have lost today. There was an expectation for the second coming of the
Lord Jesus. Christians had a great desire for Heaven, much greater than
today. I think of the strong emphasis on eternal life and an even a
greater desire for it in the writings of the Fathers of the Church. I
invite our people, clergy and laity alike, to live this Lenten season with a
greater desire and a greater sense of urgency. Let us repeat wholeheartedly with
the First Christians: "Marana tha! Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!" (1
Corinthians 16:22 & Revelation 22:20) Let us mean it every time when
we say it in the Nicene Creed (probably, without giving it all our attention):
"We look forward for the Resurrection of the dead and the life in the world
to come." By the end of Lent, we remind ourselves several times a day in
our prayers: "Behold the Bridegroom is coming in the middle of the night.
Blessed is the servant whom He finds awake!" (Bridegroom Service on the
first four days of Holy Week)
Our longing is for union with God, life in Christ, and eventually eternal life
with the Lord in Heaven. In this life we strive for sanctification and
deification. At the same time, we await our glorification, "an
inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven
for" us. (I Peter 1:4)
Our sense of urgency is compounded by the struggles of today. We live under a
constant threat of terrorism. World leaders are working to avert a major war. We
are striving for healing and hope in the Church after sinful and shameful abuse
by some of our Catholic clergy. The weakening of the family unit and moral fiber
of our society, poverty, homelessness, the killing of the unborn, and many other
injustices continue to grow daily. There truly is an urgent need for the
unconditional love, boundless mercy and healing power of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. My profound hope is that our ascetic spiritual exercises
recommended during this sacred period of Lent will sharpen our longing for the
"world to come." An old song comes to mind - I am quoting it from
memory:
"This earth is not my own. I am a pilgrim here.
I saw amidst this world The other world appear.
My life is now transformed, Though earthly as before;
And I can't feel at home In this world anymore
The holy time of Lent has been called the "Spring of the Soul." As the
season of spring, it is a propitious time of renewal and rejuvenation. This
year, during Great Lent, I encourage a more serious effort from all of us for
holiness. The call to holiness begins with a call to love Jesus. Abba Paul
shares his wisdom from the desert, "Keep close to Jesus." From
this loving relationship with Jesus comes a desire to communicate with Him in
prayer and please Him with a life of virtue and holiness. "Like obedient
children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance;
but, as He who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your
conduct, for it is written, 'Be holy because I am holy." (I Peter 1:14-16)
On the 4th Sunday of Great Lent, we remember Saint John Climacus and his Ladder
of Divine Ascent. In his chapter on prayer (Step 28), Saint John Climacus
tells us that "Prayer is by nature a dialogue of man and woman with God.
Its effect is to hold the world together. It achieves a reconciliation with God.
" Maybe one reason that the world is in such need today is lack of
prayer. You and I can do something about this. You and I can make a difference.
Prayer changes things. Prayer changes us.
A famous Latin Rite Saint, John Marie Vianney, said that the purpose of man and
woman "is to pray and to love." Our beloved Archbishop Joseph
Tawil, known and loved by us all, often reminded us that holiness is the call of
everyone. He would often exhort us to spend more time in prayer. He
would remind us that as the Fathers taught, we all have the vocation to be
monks…to be saints. I remind you today, beloved in Christ, that holiness
is not the luxury of a few, but it is the call and duty of all Christians.
Saint Ignatius of Antioch exhorted the Christians in the early Church, and I
remind us all today. "Try to gather together more frequently to give thanks
to God and to praise Him. For when you come together frequently, Satan's powers
are undermined …" (Letter to the Ephesians) I encourage you all to attend
the Lenten services provided by your Parishes as much as you can. Even if
it's a sacrifice to attend, I encourage you to make this sacrifice. At the
moment of death, no one regrets time spent in prayer, time spent with the Lord,
time spent with the Church in prayer. Pray with your family. Take
the children and young people with you to services. Our youth are not only the
future of the Church, they are the Church. We must train them in the ways
of the Lord. God is more important than sports, television, computers, or
any of the other 'priorities' we hold.
Many of us remember the faith in God and devotion to the Church of our
grandparents and parents. They blessed us with their strong faith in
Christ and love for the Church. It is now our duty to pass that 'gift' to
our children and grandchildren. What better way is there than to bring our
family with us to weekly Lenten services, and most importantly to Divine Liturgy
every Sunday. Oh! How I cherish the memory of me, as an eight year old child,
holding the hand of my mother in our way to the prayer of Great Complines (Salaat
Ya Rabbal Quwwaat).
The time of Lent is a time of purification with Christ who fasted for forty days
and forty nights. Giving up food, which our bodies crave, enhances the will
power of our souls. Yet, in addition to the traditional Lenten fast, we could
fast from things like idle gossip, television, computer games, or any other
legitimate pleasure allowed only to serve us, but not to enslave us. We
could use the time gained for prayer, spiritual reading, family meals, family
time, or good works. We may adopt as motto: "More of Jesus, less of
me." The Shepherd's Care Program to feed the hungry and help the needy in
America and abroad through our fasting during the holy time of Lent has been for
years a good way to help alleviate some of the suffering in the universe, while
sacrificing our own legitimate pleasure.
If our experience of Great Lent is more disciplined and committed, our time of
the Resurrection of Jesus will be more joyful and fruitful. Be assured of my
love and prayers for you all. I especially remember in prayer and in my heart
all those who are home bound because of sickness or old age. I pray that our
blessed Lord, Who fasted and prayed for forty days in the desert, will bless and
comfort you. May you unite your sufferings to His as we all pray to grow in love
and virtue.
"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ
Jesus." (I Corinthians 16:23-24)
