FR. DEMETRI'S MESSAGE
GREAT AND HOLY WEEK…
AND US!
How many times have we thought of this most Holy and Sacred Week as a pious reenactment of the final days leading up to the Glory of our Lord?
Yes, the services are emotional and are so rich with certain traditions and rituals, and they are some of the most attended or popular (some who never come to church attend on Holy Friday, and some come to receive the Light…
though they leave right away
) services in our Orthodox Faith.
Unfortunately, we may see the services of Great and Holy Week as very deep and moving historical reenactments…though it
HAS THE CAPABLITY TO TRANSFORM OUR LIVES!
These
eight
days demand more from us than to be spectators. We are all invited to be with him in all the events and, finally, to die with him mystically on the Cross.
We must allow this GREAT WEEK to be that as it is!
We must separate this week from the other 51 out of the year
!
We must have the right focus during this week!
We have to WANT to be with HIM!
We must have the Cross buried into our hearts!
As Christ dies for us, we too must do something!
We must
be His servants!
We should want to give our whole self to Him who is the Source of all things.
During the 40 days of Great Lent, we show discipline by fasting, prayer and almsgiving. We do this for a reason: to prepare ourselves for
THIS TIME
…we put our selfish desires away and only want to live for Him…and by being His examples, hopefully, in our homes, workplace, school, etc.
Soon we will hear these beautiful words “Beware, therefore, O my soul, lest you be borne down with sleep, lest you be given up to death, and lest you be shut out from the kingdom.” (Hymn from the Bridegroom Service)
If we are fully awake and are ready, we will be able to walk step by step in a humble and loving manner with our Lord, finding ourselves at His Holy Feet as we kneel in front of Him on the Cross and then awaiting to hear those powerful words “Christ is Risen.”
Let us together as a Family be able to say those words of St. Paul in his letter to the Galatians:
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (2:20)
Blessed Resurrection, Kali Anastasi
God bless,