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| A Few Words From Father Nicholas: | ||||
| Volume
1, Issue 4
September 29, 2000 Editor: Assistant Editor: Publisher: Contributors: Inside This Issue: A Few Words From our Priest, Fr. Nicholas............1 Faces in the Nativity in Mexico Church Events.................. ..4 Book Editorial......................5 Broccoli Salad Recipe...................................6 |
Great Lent Saint John Chrysostom would remind his flock how physicians prescribe medicine that is very beneficial but not always pleasant to taste. Some people have been known to say that Great Lent is too difficult for the palate. It sure seems that some could "psych" themselves out of participating in Great Lent if they allow this negative train of thought to prevail. Isn’t it pretty easy to fall into the trap, as many do, of completely ignoring Great Lent? Just think what would happen to us if we didn’t take our prescribed medicine, just because we didn’t like it! Great Lent is surely more than just abstaining from certain foods! Many people are deprived of meats and dairy products all over the world because they live in poor or underdeveloped countries, or they simply cannot afford to eat sumptuously. Yet, many of these people are in fine physical health and see meats and dairy products as luxuries, not necessities. Do we really need these foods during lent? Are we that weak that we cannot abstain from them for the period of this Holy Fast? Additionally, the spiritual fathers of the Church advise us that true fasting means we must also forgive others and become merciful, as our Father in Heaven is merciful; that we seek forgiveness of our sins and transgressions. When we pray and do good works we should do so in secret,
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because Our Father in Heaven sees our good faith and will reward us openly. Let us try to remember the example of the saints who found God and spiritual peace by putting on the sackcloth of Great Lent! They were helped in their journey by seeking to come closer to our Lord, His Holiness and the righteousness of His Holy Commandments. Great Lent can be something of joy and spiritual fulfillment or it can be just another time of the year that we let go by. Let us hear the voice of the Prodigal Son’s father who called out from the depths of heart: "Put a ring on his right hand and bring him the best robe; kill the fatted calf and let us be merry, for my son was dead and now is alive! He was lost and now is found."
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