Journey through the Sundays of Lent

Journey through the Journey through the Sundays of LentSundays of Lent

University Meeting 2009: Ehab RoufailUniversity Meeting 2009: Ehab RoufailBased on “Based on “Journey to the Bosom of the Father” Journey to the Bosom of the Father”

By Hegomen Pishoy Kamel    By Hegomen Pishoy Kamel   

OutlineOutline

The Journey BeginsThe Journey Begins Preparation Sunday (Matt. 6:1-8)Preparation Sunday (Matt. 6:1-8) Treasuring Sunday (Matt. 6:24-34)Treasuring Sunday (Matt. 6:24-34) Temptation Sunday (Matt. 4: 1-10)Temptation Sunday (Matt. 4: 1-10) Sunday of the Prodigal Sunday of the Prodigal (Luke 15:11-32)(Luke 15:11-32) Sunday of the Samaritan (Matt 21:28–32)Sunday of the Samaritan (Matt 21:28–32) Sunday of the Paralysed Man (John 4:1-Sunday of the Paralysed Man (John 4:1-

42) 42) Sunday of the Marn Born Blind (Sunday of the Marn Born Blind (John 5: John 5:

1–18)1–18)

The Journey The Journey BeginsBegins

The Journey BeginsThe Journey Begins The essence of the fall was prideThe essence of the fall was pride This is the essence of the fast, that we crucify this This is the essence of the fast, that we crucify this

inherent selfishness so that we may love others. For inherent selfishness so that we may love others. For Christ’s love in this world is a crucified love.Christ’s love in this world is a crucified love.

It is warfare against the passions.It is warfare against the passions. Fasting is to realize that I am limitedFasting is to realize that I am limited Fasting is a sign that God is the Source of life and not Fasting is a sign that God is the Source of life and not

breadbread During the fast, there exists a a dual path: one to During the fast, there exists a a dual path: one to

Christ and the other to our fellow brothers and Christ and the other to our fellow brothers and sisters.sisters.

The Journey Begins: The Journey Begins: FastingFasting

Fasting:Fasting: The practice of fasting looks to the The practice of fasting looks to the pastpast, ,

presentpresent and and futurefuture: : To To the pastthe past,, as a recognition of offences as a recognition of offences

committed against God and others; committed against God and others; To To the presentthe present,, in order that we may learn in order that we may learn

to open our eyes to others and to the world to open our eyes to others and to the world around us; around us;

To To the futurethe future,, in order that we may open in order that we may open our hearts to the realities of God and, by the our hearts to the realities of God and, by the gift of divine mercy, renew the bond of gift of divine mercy, renew the bond of communion with all people and with the communion with all people and with the whole of creation, accepting the responsibility whole of creation, accepting the responsibility which each of us has in history which each of us has in history

Preparation Preparation Sunday: Shut your Sunday: Shut your

DoorDoorThe Point of Departure of the JourneyThe Point of Departure of the Journey““When you pray enter into your closet,...shut your door, pray to When you pray enter into your closet,...shut your door, pray to

your Father which is in secret....” Also if you give alms or fast your Father which is in secret....” Also if you give alms or fast that also should be to the Father in secret.... that also should be to the Father in secret....

The Church declares to us that the closet is the point of The Church declares to us that the closet is the point of departure of the journey of Lent.  If it does not start at the departure of the journey of Lent.  If it does not start at the closet then the journey of our fast has deviated from its true closet then the journey of our fast has deviated from its true course. The fact that the Church starts the fast by directing us course. The fact that the Church starts the fast by directing us to the closet means that the fast is not only related to the flesh to the closet means that the fast is not only related to the flesh but it is related more to the spirit and to Kingdom of God. but it is related more to the spirit and to Kingdom of God.

Close Your DoorClose Your Door The journey starts after closing the door-the door that looks at The journey starts after closing the door-the door that looks at

the world. Then there opens before us another door that faces the world. Then there opens before us another door that faces heaven, “Our father who art in heaven”, “I looked, and, behold heaven, “Our father who art in heaven”, “I looked, and, behold a door was opened in heaven.” (Rev 4:1) “Fasting is not a fetter a door was opened in heaven.” (Rev 4:1) “Fasting is not a fetter or a prison to the senses but a soaring without hindrance or a prison to the senses but a soaring without hindrance towards contemplation of God.”towards contemplation of God.”

Preparation Preparation Sunday: He sees in Sunday: He sees in

secretsecret

Your Father Who Sees in SecretYour Father Who Sees in Secret Since the journey is with the soul, it should be done in Since the journey is with the soul, it should be done in

secret. The relationship between the human soul and secret. The relationship between the human soul and Christ, is an invisible relationship that begins in the Christ, is an invisible relationship that begins in the chamber. chamber.

So fasting is accompanied by a reduction in talking and So fasting is accompanied by a reduction in talking and visits and by concentrating on spiritual readings and visits and by concentrating on spiritual readings and attending the Divine Liturgy. attending the Divine Liturgy.

Our Heavenly Father is calling us to a holy participation Our Heavenly Father is calling us to a holy participation with Him in secret, through which we may start our fast, with Him in secret, through which we may start our fast, our prayers, and our almsgivings.  our prayers, and our almsgivings. 

So we need to beware of negligence.So we need to beware of negligence.

Practice: The practice in the week of preparation is the Practice: The practice in the week of preparation is the prayer of the chamber and the worship in secret which prayer of the chamber and the worship in secret which will continue with us all through after the period of will continue with us all through after the period of fasting.fasting.

Treasuring Sunday: Treasuring Sunday: SurrenderSurrender

SurrenderSurrender of Life to the Heavenly Father: (Matt. of Life to the Heavenly Father: (Matt. 6:24-34)6:24-34)

The gospel of the first Sunday of Lent calls for the The gospel of the first Sunday of Lent calls for the surrender of life to the Father. surrender of life to the Father.

““Take no thought for your life, what you shall Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat...nor yet for the body, what you shall eat...nor yet for the body, what you shall wear....do not worry about tomorrow.” The wear....do not worry about tomorrow.” The reason for not worrying is that “your heavenly reason for not worrying is that “your heavenly Father knows that you have of all these things.” Father knows that you have of all these things.” (Matt. 6:32).(Matt. 6:32).

The practice of this week is a call to a secure life The practice of this week is a call to a secure life in the care of the Father and the carrying out of in the care of the Father and the carrying out of what comes in the verse, “Do not worry about what comes in the verse, “Do not worry about tomorrow,” physically, mentally and spiritually.tomorrow,” physically, mentally and spiritually.

Treasuring Sunday: Treasuring Sunday: AssuranceAssurance

The Christian commandment is full of risks but The Christian commandment is full of risks but its its assurance assurance is the care of the Father. is the care of the Father. 

The woman who gave the two mites was The woman who gave the two mites was risking her meal. During the fast, Satan risking her meal. During the fast, Satan wages his war by convincing us that we are wages his war by convincing us that we are risking the necessities of the body and causes risking the necessities of the body and causes us to worry about our health. Likewise, in us to worry about our health. Likewise, in charity, there is a risk of wealth. charity, there is a risk of wealth.

In this week, we experience the complete In this week, we experience the complete surrender to the care of the Father and to His surrender to the care of the Father and to His commandment. commandment.

Temptation Temptation Sunday: Don’t Sunday: Don’t

doubt his doubt his FatherhoodFatherhood

Why does God forget us if He is our Father? (Matt. 4: 1-Why does God forget us if He is our Father? (Matt. 4: 1-10)10)

The gospel of the Second Sunday deals with the The gospel of the Second Sunday deals with the temptation of doubting God’s paternity to us, temptation of doubting God’s paternity to us,

““If you are the son of God-why does He leave you If you are the son of God-why does He leave you hungry? Why does God allow the presence of hungry? Why does God allow the presence of disease, failure and the death of our beloved?”disease, failure and the death of our beloved?”

Practice: It is our duty this week to examine our faith Practice: It is our duty this week to examine our faith in the love of the Father who gave His Son for us.  in the love of the Father who gave His Son for us. 

Our faith should surpass all temptations and Our faith should surpass all temptations and emotions.  Faith in the Father should be a faith that emotions.  Faith in the Father should be a faith that fortifies us against the temptation of the Adversary, fortifies us against the temptation of the Adversary, the hardships of this world and the sufferings and the hardships of this world and the sufferings and desires of the body.desires of the body.

Sunday of the Sunday of the Prodigal: Prodigal:

RepentanceRepentanceRepentance in the Father’s bosom (Luke 15:11-32) Repentance in the Father’s bosom (Luke 15:11-32) Repentance in Christianity is different from any Repentance in Christianity is different from any

other repentance; it is the return of the son to his other repentance; it is the return of the son to his Father and the Father running to fall on the neck Father and the Father running to fall on the neck of His son to embrace him and kiss him (Luke of His son to embrace him and kiss him (Luke 15:20). This is the gospel of the third Sunday.15:20). This is the gospel of the third Sunday.

The Father’s paternity to us is not because of our The Father’s paternity to us is not because of our righteousness, but because of His paternity to his righteousness, but because of His paternity to his children, especially the sinners. children, especially the sinners.

The Father’s paternity for us challenges all our The Father’s paternity for us challenges all our sins, our failures, our betrayal of His love and our sins, our failures, our betrayal of His love and our mistreatment of His name. mistreatment of His name.

Sunday of the Sunday of the Prodigal: Repent Prodigal: Repent

with Himwith Him Practice: Let’s not permit this week to go Practice: Let’s not permit this week to go

by without true repentance and resorting by without true repentance and resorting to the Father’s embrace....Examine this in to the Father’s embrace....Examine this in your chamber and taste the Father’s your chamber and taste the Father’s embrace and His kisses which are embrace and His kisses which are reserved only for those who repent. This reserved only for those who repent. This is the week of repentance in the Father’s is the week of repentance in the Father’s bosom, the repentance of the whole bosom, the repentance of the whole Church...the communal repentance.Church...the communal repentance.

Sunday of the Sunday of the Samaritan: WorshipSamaritan: Worship

Worship of the Father in Spirit and in Truth (John Worship of the Father in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:1-42) 4:1-42)

The next step after repentance is worship of The next step after repentance is worship of the Father Who accepted and loved me and the Father Who accepted and loved me and cleansed me from my sins and put me in His cleansed me from my sins and put me in His bosom.  Contrition of the spirit and submission bosom.  Contrition of the spirit and submission to the Father and the love of frequent to the Father and the love of frequent prostrations in worship are the expressions of prostrations in worship are the expressions of our love for Him who opened His arms for us our love for Him who opened His arms for us sinners and kissed us. This is the end of the sinners and kissed us. This is the end of the road of repentance in the Father’s bosom, and road of repentance in the Father’s bosom, and this is the sweetest fruit of the chamber and this is the sweetest fruit of the chamber and which the Father gives us in secret.which the Father gives us in secret.

Sunday of the Sunday of the Samaritan: WorshipSamaritan: Worship

The Church, inspired by the Spirit, The Church, inspired by the Spirit, stresses in the period of Lent the use of stresses in the period of Lent the use of prostrations during private prayers and prostrations during private prayers and in the Divine Liturgy (At the Offering of in the Divine Liturgy (At the Offering of Incense after the readings of the Incense after the readings of the prophets). prophets).

The practice of this week is to worship The practice of this week is to worship the Father in spirit and truth “for such the Father in spirit and truth “for such the Father seeks to worship Him.” (John the Father seeks to worship Him.” (John 4:23)4:23)

Sunday of the Sunday of the Paralysed Man: Paralysed Man:

RenewalRenewal Bethesda and Baptism (John 5:1-18)Bethesda and Baptism (John 5:1-18) The Gospel of the fifth Sunday talks The Gospel of the fifth Sunday talks

about Bethesda which symbolizes about Bethesda which symbolizes Baptism. We, the crowds of Christians, Baptism. We, the crowds of Christians, were beside it sick, lame, blind and were beside it sick, lame, blind and paralyzed; suffering every spiritual paralyzed; suffering every spiritual sickness. The Angel that moves the sickness. The Angel that moves the water symbolizes the Holy Spirit which water symbolizes the Holy Spirit which comes down on the water of Baptism.comes down on the water of Baptism.

Sunday of the Sunday of the Paralysed Man: Paralysed Man: Don’t DespairDon’t Despair

This is our share in Christ: those who This is our share in Christ: those who are baptized are ever in the Father are baptized are ever in the Father even if they have been sick for 38 even if they have been sick for 38 years.years.

The practice of this week is to hope and The practice of this week is to hope and never to despair—Baptism has given us never to despair—Baptism has given us the grace of adoption and children are the grace of adoption and children are never disappointed in their hopes in the never disappointed in their hopes in the love of the Father.love of the Father.

Sunday of the Man Sunday of the Man Born Blind: Born Blind:

EnlightenmentEnlightenment Sonship is a Spiritual Enlightenment (John 9:1-Sonship is a Spiritual Enlightenment (John 9:1-

41)41) The last Sunday in Lent is the Sunday of The last Sunday in Lent is the Sunday of

Baptism, during which we read the gospel of Baptism, during which we read the gospel of the man born blind.the man born blind.

 “ “I was blind and now I see.” This is our I was blind and now I see.” This is our everlasting experience as children of the everlasting experience as children of the Heavenly Father. We were blind and He opened Heavenly Father. We were blind and He opened our sight so we beheld miracles of His laws and our sight so we beheld miracles of His laws and we saw what the prophets longed to see, and we saw what the prophets longed to see, and He gave us understanding of the Scriptures.He gave us understanding of the Scriptures.

Sunday of the Man Sunday of the Man Born Blind: Born Blind:

EnlightenmentEnlightenment Baptism means washing (in the pool of Baptism means washing (in the pool of

Siloam), so we become pure. Siloam), so we become pure. Repentance is a continuous washing, so we Repentance is a continuous washing, so we

may see clearly. Repentance is a continuation may see clearly. Repentance is a continuation of Baptism and it is the means through which of Baptism and it is the means through which we can see Christ clearly all our life. we can see Christ clearly all our life.

Lasting repentance cleans our heart, renews Lasting repentance cleans our heart, renews the intellect, protects the contrite soul in the the intellect, protects the contrite soul in the obedience of the Father, and through obedience of the Father, and through repentance, we can discover all the graces repentance, we can discover all the graces and secrets of the Heavenly Father. and secrets of the Heavenly Father.

Never to late to Never to late to begin the Journeybegin the Journey

If we that the Lord is not our treasure – it is not If we that the Lord is not our treasure – it is not too late to start. too late to start.

If we feel tempted and far from the Lord – it is If we feel tempted and far from the Lord – it is not too late to turn to Him in our need.not too late to turn to Him in our need.

If we feel lonely and lost in our sin, having If we feel lonely and lost in our sin, having separated ourselves from the Church as the separated ourselves from the Church as the Samaritan woman – let us come to the Lord to Samaritan woman – let us come to the Lord to drink His living water.drink His living water.

If we have been long in sin as much as 38 years, If we have been long in sin as much as 38 years, focusing on our own power – it is not too late focusing on our own power – it is not too late look to Him standing next to us and accept His look to Him standing next to us and accept His healing.healing.

Never to late to Never to late to begin the Journeybegin the Journey

If we have been born blind, our eyes shut to If we have been born blind, our eyes shut to the Glory of God – it is not too late to let Him the Glory of God – it is not too late to let Him touch and create new eyestouch and create new eyes

If we are dead and our stench is obvious to all If we are dead and our stench is obvious to all around – He calls us to arise and come fortharound – He calls us to arise and come forth

Let us ask and begin wherever we areLet us ask and begin wherever we are