With Great Lent set to begin on Monday, February 12, Diocesan Primate Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan offers insights to help us experience this holy season to its fullest.
“Lent is, above all, a time of preparation,” says Bishop Mesrop. “It prepares us to fully immerse ourselves in the great Mystery of the Christian faith: the profound drama of Christ’s suffering; his death on the Cross; and his miraculous, world-changing resurrection.”
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At this time of year, most of us are still braving the chill of winter. But we can already sense that spring is coming—and with it, renewed warmth, and light. As Christians, those signs of physical Nature remind us that it’s time to embark on our yearly Re-Dosvocer journey, to delve deeper into ourselves—and re-discover God’s purpose for us.
My Friends, another holy season of Great Lent is upon us.
Lent is, above all, a time of preparation. It prepares us to fully immerse ourselves in the great Mystery of the Christian faith: the profound drama of Christ’s suffering; his death on the Cross; and his miraculous, world-changing resurrection.
Physically, during Lent, many of us give up eating certain foods, or abstain from a favorite entertainment—and these are worthwhile practices of self-discipline and sacrifice. But spiritually, the objectives of Lent are even more demanding: Conversion of the heart; sincere and genuine Forgiveness; the call to walk in the path of Holiness.
These are not easy goals for any of us to achieve! But here’s the point: God knows we cannot do these things on our own. And so He sent His Son to help us. And save us.
Lent is our time to share that hopeful message. And it’s a wonderful time to do so within your family. I encourage you to pray together; support each other in the Christian practices of Lent; talk about the meaning of sacrifice, in our own lives, and in the life of Jesus. Lent should be a time to pass on traditions to children; to listen to the recollections of our elders; to share the bonds of loving concern with other faithful.
My prayer and hope—for all of us—is that these forty days will be a season to fully embrace the deep meaning of Lent, with its emphasis on the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus, and the personal spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, and merciful action. By doing so, we not only preserve the cherished values of our special Christian heritage, but also contribute to making the world a place of peace, respect, and love, in the image of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God bless you and strengthen you in the holy season to come.