ST.Gregorious Orthodx Church, London
Once again we have entered in to the spiritual
journey of Great Lent.
What is the purpose of the Lent?
Is it a mechanism to force
us to fast and avoid meat?
Studies have shown that fasting is good for our
health. But lent is more than just staying away from certain foods. Great Lent
is the time for cleaning up our system.
Get rid of toxic thoughts, so that Holy
Spirit can enter into hearts and fill it up with qualities like compassion,
love, obedience to God and service to mankind.
Great Lent is the time for
personal reflection, meditation, reconciliation, and prayer.
If you do it
right, we will get transformed. We will be ready to participate in the Jesus'
passion and we will resurrect spiritually with Jesus on Easter Day.
Lent is observed in almost all Christian traditions
in various forms whereby some abstain from meat, dairy products and fish, some
from meat and dairy products and some by not eating an entire meal or two the
whole day.
Abstinence from something or the other forms the back bone of lent
this way. The aim of lent is to make the body starve from something which in
some way or the other is perceived as a luxury to the self or which is
unavailable to someone else.
Lent is also seen as a way to discipline the self
and also as a way to gain something by denying oneself something or the other.
Many Christian denominations also see lent as a time when we abstain to help others
by providing food and other essentials through what is saved as a result of the
abstinence.
Lent also has not so visible, but never the less inherent meanings
of slowing down the pace of life and using the time to meditate and take stock
of one’s life and to define what it means to live.
This is a good time for all us to straighten up our
lives
WHAT SHOULD
I GIVE UP FOR LENT?
NON-VEG?
CHOCOLATE? ICE CREAM? BEVERAGES?
Many of us try to be more disciplined for Lent and
give up something that we really like. That’s great! Fasting has always been an
important tradition of Lent. This year however, let us also consider other
things that we can give up.
Give up complaining - Focus on
gratitude.
Philippians 2:14-15 – Do everything without
complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure...
1Thessalonians 5:18 – Give thanks in all
circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ.
Give up bitterness - Turn to
forgiveness
Ephesians 4:31 – Get rid of all bitterness, rage
and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
Ephesians
4:32 – Be kind and compassionate to one another forgiving each other, just as
in Christ God forgave you.
Give up worry - Trust in God
Matthew 6:25 – “Therefore I tell you, do not worry
about your life… who by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
Matthew
6:33 – But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things
will be given to you as well. Give up discouragement - Be full of hope
Deuteronomy 31:8 – The Lord himself goes before you
and will be with you: he will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid;
do not be discouraged.
Isaiah 40:31 – But those who hope in the Lord will renew
their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow
weary, they will walk and not be faint. Give up hatred - Return good for evil
1
John 2:9 – Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still
in the darkness.
Luke 6:27 – “But I tell you who hear me; Love your enemies, do
Good to those who hate you.
Give up anger - Be more patient
Matthew 5:22 – But I tell you that anyone who is
angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.
Proverbs 15:18 – A hot
tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.
Give up gossiping - Control your
tongue
Psalm 34:13 – Keep your tongue from evil and your
lips from speaking lies.
Proverbs 21:23 – He who guards his mouth and his
tongue keeps himself from calamity.
“The frenetic activity of modern life with all its
pressures makes it indispensable that Christians seek prayerful silence and
contemplation as both conditions for and expressions of a vibrant faith.
When
God is no longer at the center of human life, then life itself becomes empty
and meaningless…Jesus himself often “went off to a lonely place and prayed
there…
” Jesus’ prayer is our example, especially when we are caught up in the
tensions and responsibilities of daily life.”
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