Beloved in Christ,

    The "Lenten Spring" has come!  I pray that for us it will be a season of light and not one of darkness.  Light reveals and illumines.  Light also has a means of purifying. 

    The time of Great Lent, however, requires courage and perseverance.  Courage to see ourselves and to be willing to hear what God has to say.  Perseverance to do what may not be easy, but necessary for our souls. 

    This morning I reflected upon the verses that we read from "The Sunday of Forgiveness Vespers:"

    "I want to wash away with tears the record of my sins, O Lord, and through the rest of my life to please Thee by repentance; but the enemy deceives me and fights against my soul. Before I perish utterly, save me, O Lord."

    "Wash me with my tears, O Savior, for I am defiled by many sins. Therefore I fall down before Thee: I have sinned, have mercy upon me, O God."

    The words of our services are not intended to "put words in our mouths," however, if we truly desire what God knows is best for us, then we must begin the season of Lent recognizing that we have work to do.  It is a spiritual labor that requires our participation in the services; a participation that begins with a willingness in saying and doing certain things; refraining and abstaining from other things. 

    All of this is intended to help us on our journey.  Great Lent is a journey - an annual pilgrimage.  Our destination is the empty Tomb.  However, we are a long way from it right now and should not be sluggish in our time of preparation.  Nor should we procrastinate.  God's grace will sustain us.  Listen again to the words of another verse from the Forgiveness Vespers service:

    "Thy grace hath risen, O Lord, the illumination of our souls hath shone forth. Lo, now is the acceptable time; the season of repentance hath come. Let us cast down the works of darkness, and put on the works of light, that we may pass the great tempest of fasting and reach the summit of the third-day Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Savior of our souls."

    Whatever condition we find ourselves, however strong or weak we know ourselves to be, we must give thanks for this time for renewal.  It is prescribed for our good health and well being.  It is a time that is chosen for deepening our understanding and growing in faith.  It is clear from what we also heard in the service:  "Let us begin the fast with joy!  Let us prepare ourselves for spiritual efforts.  Let us purify our souls and cleanse our flesh.  Let us abstain from passion as we abstain from foods, taking pleasure in the good works of the Spirit, and accomplishing them in love that we all may be made worthy to see the passion of Christ our God, rejoicing in His Holy Resurrection!"

        For those of you who were not with us on Sunday, I ask of you what I did to each present:  your forgiveness and prayers.

        May the Lord our God grant us all a good Fast.

In Christ,

Father Timothy Baclig
Pastor