A Reflection on Great Lent
by Silvana Totan & Michael Pac-Urar, National A.R.O.Y Board Members

As St. Paul says in his letter to the Corinthians, “Do not recline in the temples of idols, eating the idol sacrifices, for if one passes by with a weak spirit and sees you with such knowledge of God reclining in the temple and eating the idol sacrifice, will not their weak spirit be swayed from righteousness?”  St. Paul concludes, “As believers you are responsible for those you have led astray.”  During this time of Great Lent, we must ask ourselves, “Are we bringing more goodness into the world or more evil?”  “How can we redirect our current path in order to contribute constructively to society?”  As Orthodox Christians, for these six sacred weeks, we must set an example of holiness for the world to follow, constantly reflecting on our daily actions and their direct and indirect consequences that resound throughout our communities.

In The Orthodox Church A to Z, Fr. George Grube writes, “As human beings we are composed of body and soul. We discipline our souls by prayer, sober living and Holy Mysteries. Our bodies are controlled and disciplined by fasting from both food and iniquities." (Pg. 53)  Lent and fasting are not forms of punishment for the body.  We restrain from eating meat and dairy products because fasting serves as a constant reminder of our priority to set an upright and holy example, while clearing our minds and enabling us to more judiciously reflect on our thoughts and actions.  Through our constant reflection and good deeds, our soul is cleansed along with our body.  It is also crucial to keep in mind the purpose of Lent is not just fasting from food but withholding from other earthly activates that lead us astray and prevent us from living our life in peace.

What can we do to set an example of holiness for society?

Great Lent is a time to help those in society who are in need of love and compassion and share with them all the blessings God has bestowed upon us.  We can start by volunteering at soup kitchens, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, and churches.  Continue by regarding most closely the words coming out of our mouths, rather than the food going into them.  Help the elderly, the sick, and the ignorant that you encounter in your everyday lives.  Strive to be perfect in God – you will never be, but your efforts will make you such.  Make the world around you your living Church through actions of goodness and holiness in your everyday lives.  When playing games: play fair, when driving: halt the road rage, when doing anything do not indulge, but rather act modestly with the utmost regard for others.  Our joy in the Great Feast is proportionate to the extent to which we have prepared ourselves.  Therefore, set a righteous and holy example for the world to follow in order to not let anyone be led astray from the path of Righteousness.

God does not expect us to be perfect during this Lenten period, but His expectations are that we learn from our iniquities and change our behavior when we are wrong.  He expects us to share the knowledge we have of Him with others, and try to help everyone understand his beauty.  We, as Orthodox Christians, have to demonstrate patience and love for one another, no matter the circumstance. “If you are slapped on one cheek, turn the other too.” (Matthew 5:39)  He expects us to become more aware of our own iniquities and not judge our brothers.  During this period of Great Lent, it is important to take time out of our busy days to find tranquility in our lives.  We achieve peace with God through our everyday actions, by always remembering not to judge our brothers and sisters in Christ, and by setting an example of holiness for the world to follow.

Christ is in our midst!