Alexios Mar Eusebius

Metropolitan

February 22, 2010

Blessings to our dearly beloved Chor-Episcopoi, Priests, Deacons, and all the faithful of our Diocese.

Dearly Beloved,

Throughout the Great Lent, we are reminded of the forty day lent of Moses, Elijah, and our Lord Jesus Christ in the prayer of St. Ephrem that we chant before going to sleep. This reference sets the tone for how we ought to observe lent: that is, just as Christ left the pleasures of the world and departed for the wilderness, so we ought to prepare ourselves for our journey into the wilderness, the desert.

Nowadays, we are completely drawn into a routine and regular way of life. We observe people and events and are drawn into the way of comparison, never satisfied with who we are or what we have. A desert paints a different kind of picture for us. The simplicity of a desert does not allow for comparisons nor does it give one a choice because it seems to lack even the basic necessities of life. The only things that may change in the desert are the strength of the wind and the movement of the sand. Life in the desert would help us shift our eyes from the world and focus it on Christ. We have to be watchful of ourselves, and this starts with us having to look deeper within us. Can we seek to remove ourselves from the pleasures of the world and focus a bit more on our spiritual lives? Our goal is not to run away from the world or be of the world, but to live in the world for our God in a world that teaches us to do the exact opposite.

Prayer can never be separated from lent; in fact, it is the basis for lent. If we make a serious attempt to focus on our inner spiritual growth, prayer, silence and solitude are the keys for success. Several Indian spiritual traditions speak of the importance of ‘Satsang,” or being in the company of the wise, the spiritually evolved ones, the sages. For us as Christians, the lives of the saints are an example for us that can help us progress in our spiritual walk. Praying together as a family, making an effort to attend spiritual retreats or other events, and participation in the Sunday liturgy are ways in which we can grow towards perfection in Christ.

For many people, it seems as if one of the toughest parts of Lent is restricting their diet and controlling what they eat. Festivals and parties before the start of lent and the completion of lent have become the icons of lent. When we avoid a food item, we are trying to control a worldly desire. It is the simplest form of control we exert on our bodies. If we fail in this, how much more will we fail in controlling ourselves from the other pleasures that the world offers? Less food or restricting specific types of food will only benefit us and help discipline our bodies while remaining healthy. We need to challenge ourselves through the discipline of abstinence and prepare our bodies and minds for repentance.

When we observe the lent, it is not the world that will change, but we who change causing us to see the world differently. This will help us to see the problems of the world in a new light and identify solutions for them. In other words, we will experience the transformation of our own lives and the lives and events of the people around us.

My Dear Children, our Lord Jesus Christ is the best example for us to follow during this Great Lent. His fasting, meditation and prayers for forty days gave Him the strength for his public ministry. His life and ministry not only changed the world during his time, but influenced generations to come and we are proud members of that tradition.

We pray that this Lenten season may be a blessed one for all of us and will enable us to repent, drawing closer to God and depending on Him for all things.

May the Triune God bless you and grant you a peaceful and prosperous life.

Your Shepherd in Christ,

Alexios Mar Eusebius Metropolitan