Sunday

From ‘Great Lent’

John 1:43-51

As to the first and essential theme of Lenten Sundays, it also is primarily revealed in the Scriptural lessons. To understand their sequence, we must once more remember the original connection between Lent and Baptism– Lent’s meaning as preparation for Baptism. These lessons are therefore an integral part of the early Christian catechesis; they explain and summarize the preparation of the catachumen for the Paschal mystery of Baptism. Baptism is the entrance into the new life inaugurated by Christ. To the catachumen, this new life is as yet only announced and promised, and he accepts it by faith. He is like one of the men of the Old Testament who lived by their faith in a promise whose fulfillment they did not see.

This is the theme of the first Sunday. After having mentioned the righteous men of the Old Testament, the Epistle (Heb. 11:24-26; 32-40; 12-2) concludes:     …and these all, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised since God has foreseen something better for us.

What is it? The answer is given in the Gospel lesson of the first Sunday (John 1:43-51):
…you shall see greater things than these… truly, truly I say unto you, you will see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

This means: you catechumens, you who believe in Christ, you who want to be baptized, who are preparing yourselves for Pascha– you shall see the inauguration of the new age, the fulfillment of all promises, the manifestation of the Kingdom. But you shall see it only if you believe and repent, if you change your mind, if you have the desire, if you accept the effort.
Monday

“One who is heedful and takes the salvation of his soul seriously, struggles, progresses, bears fruit, is nourished spiritually and rejoices angelically.”
(Elder St. Paisios in ‘Spiritual Awakening’)

31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

 

Tuesday

“God, my child, is everywhere, and His eye observes everything but He overlooks our sins because He awaits our repentance. When we are at fault whether slightly or greatly, He sees it because He is present but we do not see Him because we are infants in knowledge. And when He punishes us so that we may turn towards Him, we think that we are suffering unjustly. However, when we humble ourselves, with eyes of our souls are opened and we realize that everything that the Lord does is very good. Then we look upon Him as our father abundant in mercy and overflowing with perfect love and kindness.”
(Elder Joseph the Hesychast in  ‘ Monastic Wisdom’)

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Wednesday

“Some people again, while giving five hundred, even a thousand drachmas to a poor person, will start bargaining over five or ten drachmas with the poor laborer who works for him. I can’t understand this. You give five hundred or even a thousand drachmas to a stranger, the person you have beside you, who helps you, youal low to go hungry? This is the person you are obligated to love and help first.”
(Elder St. Paisios in ‘Spiritual Awakening’)

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Thursday

“The love of God created us in His image and likeness. He embraced us within the Church in spite of the fact that He knew of our apostasy. He gave us everything to make us gods, too, through the free gift of grace. For all that, we made poor use of our freedom and lost our original beauty, our original righteousness and cut ourselves off from the Church. Outside the Church, far from the Holy Trinity, we lost Paradise, everything. But outside the Church there is no salvation, there is no life. And so the compassionate heart of God the Father did not leave us exiled from His love. He opened again for us the gates of Paradise in the last of times and appeared in flesh.”
(Elder St. Porphyrios in ‘Wounded by Love’)

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethrei only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectorj do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Friday

“Our goal is to live in an Orthodox way, not simply to speak or to write in an Orthodox way. This is why, you see, a sermon does not inform, does not change the life of a person, no matter how good it is, unless the preacher is actually living the faith… It is relatively easy to think in an Orthodox way; to live the Orthodox way of life requires effort.”
(Elder St. Paisios in ‘Spiritual Awakening’)

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

Saturday

“You still have much to go through to show the measure of your love towards Him to whom you have devoted yourself. Do not accept any thoughts of pride suggested by Satan, but constantly criticize yourself, for that evil rascal has defiled us with disgraceful passions, so how can we be proud? We need weeping and a river of tears to wash away our filth and sores.
Bear in mind the humility of the crucified Lord: “Learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Only by achieving true humility shall we find tranquility and peace in the tempestuous state of our soul.”
(Elder Ephraim of Arizona in ‘Counsels from the Holy Mountain’)

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.