Lenten Flowers - April 2024

Spring flowers seem to just appear. We witness their beauty but not necessarily the struggle they overcame to flower and bloom. Have you seen a video of a new plant emerging from its seed or witnessed a chick breaking free from its shell? The seedling has to compete for nutrients and sunlight in order to have a chance to live. Watching the chick makes me itch to help the struggling creature loose itself from the bondage that it’s previous shelter afforded. During this Lenten season we have been handed a chance to enter into a struggle ourselves. It is not obvious, but this struggle is no different than that of the spring bloom and chick. Even though it is entered voluntarily, it is life sustaining and life giving. Let’s look at how the church uses our gifts of our time, talent and treasure during this period.

TIME

The church in her wisdom has given us a chance to attend more service. The Lenten season is replete with evening and morning services we are able to attend. This communing with God takes time. We are called to come out of our daily lives and see that the Lord is good. Our presence allows us to enter into God’s grace and thereby become more like the Lord Himself. When Moses stepped into God’s presence on Mt. Sinai, his face shone white as he basked in the uncreated light. This filling up with God’s energy makes ready our soul to have communion with God and is soul-saving.

TALENT

During these 40 days of Great Lent, the church offers us a different theme each Sunday. These each give us an opportunity to examine our lives and see where can repent to align ourselves more closely to our Creator. These themes remind us of what is needful in life, and we are able to discern whether or not we our living our lives and using our talents in ways that are beneficial to our souls. Being challenged each year with the same Gospel reading and message allows us to ever dive deeper into the spiritual life, so that at the last judgement we may be found worthy to enter into God’s kingdom.

TREASURE

Lastly, we are asked to give alms to the poor. This act of charity reminds us that God is the Great Giver. His abundance allows us to have what we need and more, and, as He is generous to us, so we are to imitate Him in giving to others. As Saint Paul teaches us in James 2:26, “Faith without works is dead.” Therefore, the Church gives us this mandate as a way to help our faith be rich and alive. Just as the first flowers remind us of the renewal of life and God’s promise that He has conquered death and will rise again, and just as the baby chick must fight hard to start its journey of life, we too, join in the struggle of life. We enter with the hope that we might hear the words we long to hear,

“His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” (Matt 25:23)

As we near Christ’s feet and humble ourselves to honor and worship Him, may we have strength and courage the remainder of this Lent. May we bear fruit in our lives, and may we all in anticipation await Christ’s Glorious Resurrection. Kali Anastasi!