God speaks to me in many ways, one way is through this forum and its members. On the personal level this year will carry some drastic change in my life, and will be possible only if I listen carefully to what He has to tell me.
I am opening this thread so we can share wisdom, small stories, quotes etc. that will help everyone make the most on the spiritual level during lent. I hope many of you will help me (and maybe others as well) prosper some more in the vine of our Lord.
For those of us on the Gregorian calendar, today marks the liturgical "re-living" of Adam's Expulsion from Paradise.
It was poignant. One can see them if one has a copy of the Triodion (which I'd recommend to everyone, though of course I'm no one's spiritual father and one should discuss it with them first). One of the Vespers Stichera in particular struck me:
Quote
O precious paradise, unsurpassed in beauty, tabernacle built be God, unending gladness and delight, glory of the righteous, joy of the prophets, and dwelling of the saints! With the sound of thy leaves pray to the Maker of all: may He open unto me the gates which I closed by my transgression, and may He count me worthy to partake of the Tree of Life and of the joy which was mine when I dwelt in thee before
Here we call on all creation and all the saints to pray for us. The way I read it we implore creation to pray that we will be restored to paradise, that we will come to Pascha, that we will partake of our Lord. (my interpretation is decidedly not authoritative, however)
Liturgy is always poignant (see my other post on Lent a few days ago) but I was especially struck by it today. It reminds me of the way I feel at the Service of the Twelve Gospels (e.g. "Today is Hung Upon the Tree") or during the Paschal liturgy, (e.g. the canon and aposticha "Let God Arise....").
Anyway, I'm looking forward to the presanctified Liturgy on Monday. "Now the Powers...." is already running through my mind.
God speaks to me in many ways, one way is through this forum and its members. On the personal level this year will carry some drastic change in my life, and will be possible only if I listen carefully to what He has to tell me.
I am opening this thread so we can share wisdom, small stories, quotes etc. that will help everyone make the most on the spiritual level during lent. I hope many of you will help me (and maybe others as well) prosper some more in the vine of our Lord.
God bless you; this is a good idea.
For myself, I need to get back to my prayer rule and regular fasting. I have to stop being so "busy" and make the time for these things.
You're welcome, Eli. Be assured that you (and all of you in the Holy Land) are in the prayers of us Melkites here in America.
One more thing from the canon of Orthros today:
Quote
Armed with fasting, Elijah the wonderful was taken up in a chariot of fire; through fasting Moses received a vision of secret mysteries; and if we also fast like them we shall see Christ.
Clothing ourselves in the shining rainment of the fast, let us cast off the dark and hateful garment of drunkenness. And illuminated with divine virtues, we shall gaze with faith upon the radiance of the saviour's passion
And I re-read this morning the chapter "Lent in our Life" from Father Alexander Schmemann's "Great Lent" and found it to be a real eye-opener. Highly recommended.
[Eli- I know this book has been translated into Greek, and I'm told that many Greeks read this during Lent. There may also be an Arabic version - if you find one, please let me know]
Thank you for your prayers brother Markos. I will be looking for the book.
Personal note from the lent: I have read many notes and explanations on why should we fast during lent. Though I was very much convinced by the logic or spiritual reasons behind it, I have rediscovered a reason which right now appeals to me more than anything: I am simply actively monitoring my actions, speech, thoughts and prayers. We are only in the very first days of Lent, and I have already "discovered" behavioral patterns I never noticed before which now I am positive I want to dismiss from my life. Other -NEWLY acquired- habits I have started to develop I am sure I want to keep and develop furthermore - like saying "Good morning Lord, Thank you!" first thing after I open my eyes in the morning.
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Clothing ourselves in the shining rainment of the fast, let us cast off the dark and hateful garment of drunkenness. And illuminated with divine virtues, we shall gaze with faith upon the radiance of the saviour's passion
The fasting helps me see just how enormously attached I am to my sense-pleasures and my feelings of entitlements to them. And by extension, it also helps me to see the streak of selfishness in the rest of my character. But then I have to choose to pray to Christ to overcome all that, and that's not easy, because the selfish part of me likes being selfish . . . If it weren't so serious, it would be laughable. Then again, the saints say to laugh at the devil to drive him away in the name of Christ . . .
One would only think one is free until Lent comes and with it one discovers to what extent one is enslaved to physical urges, the world calls "needs," unnecessary.
Excessive eating and addiction to certain types of foods, or certain times to consume it, is only the beginning and will only lead to more sinful actions.
Two weeks no meat & one week on grass alone were enough to make me realize that I am not appreciating God's blessings on me, not only physically and with all the things He gives me even on the level of grass, but also spiritually and the strength He gives me when I accept His help or ask for His mercy.
It is Sunday, it is the day of light indeed.
The Akathist - Akathistos Arabic - Ἀκάθιστος - المدائح
The fasting helps me see just how enormously attached I am to my sense-pleasures and my feelings of entitlements to them. And by extension, it also helps me to see the streak of selfishness in the rest of my character. But then I have to choose to pray to Christ to overcome all that, and that's not easy, because the selfish part of me likes being selfish . . . If it weren't so serious, it would be laughable. Then again, the saints say to laugh at the devil to drive him away in the name of Christ . . .
-- John
Indeed, and ditto.
Lord, Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner...
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