Great Lent begins on Monday, March 14. In many Orthodox countries like Greece and Romania, the faithful celebrate the first day of the Great and Holy Lent outside. I have been told of families flying kites on Clean Monday, the first day of Lent. We are fortunate to live in Austin because we have some of the best parks in Texas. Let us make every effort to at least take a walk in the park during the first week of Great Lent. There is no argument to the benefits of getting outside. There are spiritual benefits to taking a walk in the park. The spiritual geronda Father Amphilochios of Patmos said, "Anyone who does not love trees does not love Christ." Great Lent is connected in a way to the coming of spring. Lent is truly a time to fly kites. In other words, Lent should be a time for adventure, exploration and hope. Many Western Christians begin Lent with ashes on their heads. This is a sign of mortality and penitence. Great Lent is much more than a time of penitence, it is time for flowers to open. The Great Feast of the Annunciation is always celebrated during Great Lent. The Annunciation celebrates the Archangel Gabriel waiting for the Virgin Mary's reply. Great Lent is a time for us to respond with joy to God. The purpose of Lent is to bring us back to our real home and real life. There are so many ridiculous TV shows that do a very good job of taking us away from our real home. Let us do our best during this Great and Holy Lent to come back home to God and remain there.
The question comes up, " What can I offer during Lent?" It is important to remind ourselves that the emphasis of Lent is not what we deny to ourselves, but what we offer to God and our neighbors. Think of Lent as a time of not really giving up something, but of giving ourselves to God. Make a real effort to attend as many of the Lenten Services. Read your bibles daily. Prepare a place of prayer in your home. Offer the Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim throughout the day. The purpose of Lenten Meals is to simplify our lives, and have more time for God. St. Maximos said, "Our aim is not the body's repression, but its transfiguration."
A successful business man wrote, "I spent my life climbing the ladder of success only to discover I had placed the ladder against the wrong building." Lent offers the ladder leading us to the best investments, the spiritual ones that last forever. Lent offers us the spiritual investments we can enjoy now and even bring with us to heaven. Fasting, Prayer, Almsgiving and Holy Scripture are the spiritual treasures we can enjoy now and in heaven. St. Paul wrote in 1 Cor 6, "Behold, now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation." Lent is a time for us to grow spiritually today and change while on this earth. "We are changeable, and we are changed for the better by becoming partakers of the Word," says
St. Augustine. Lent offers a time for us to become and remain prayerful. God dwells is us when we become prayerful. Our hearts become softened through prayer. Think of the artist working with clay. Clay is pliable and can be shaped and made into an object of beauty, but once baked, it sets and change is not longer possible. A wise Christian said, "A soul with humility is always pliable, and it will surely see the kingdom." I pray this Great and Holy Lent will be a time for all of us to offer thanksgiving to God, renew our commitment to Him, and allow His light to shine in us.