Preparing for the Feast of Feasts!

Throughout the years, I have had the great pleasure of attending some extraordinary parties and banquets, which I will never forget.  Whether it was an intimate dinner party or a wedding feast celebrated in the company of many, these experiences share many common elements—the care with which the hostess or host plans and prepares the table, the exquisite food, as well as the special invitation one receives to the party. 

Everything is given the utmost attention—the welcome reception and time around the table with a circle of friends.  Often there are even place cards with my name written on them, placed with care at my chosen place at the table.

This month, we have been invited to partake in the Feast of All Feasts—Glorious Pascha!  And we have our own personalized place card!    It is an invitation we shouldn’t take lightly.  We must make time to prepare our souls and bodies to meet the Resurrected Lord.  Each one of us has received an invitation to wake up and be resurrected from our sleep by Christ our Savior.  And we should make every effort to prepare ourselves for this Heavenly Banquet of love and to fully be present and “show up” at this sacred Feast!

The Sacrament of Confession is a blessing to all who are preparing to clean the vessel of their soul to receive the Light of Christ.  Dn. Chryssavgis says, “To repent is to awaken from the sleep of ignorance, to rediscover our soul, to gain the meaning and purpose of our lives by responding to the incredible love of the One who is ‘not of this world.’   The focal point should not be our imperfection but the perfect love of Jesus who considers us His beloved.  The purpose of repentance is to be pointed towards God, towards life characterized by honesty, integrity and a personal responsibility to God, others and oneself.”

We have the opportunity to transform our thoughts and actions redirecting them towards Christ during Holy Week.  The Church, in her wisdom, invites us to participate fully in Holy Week services in preparation for the joyous Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Through this week, we are able to not only reflect on Jesus’ life and love for us but also contemplate our own spiritual readiness for our own Resurrection.

When we receive that powerful light, that light that burns ever so brightly in our souls on Pascha, let us become renewed, refreshed and restored to see Christ in all things.  Indeed, we will sing the beautiful canon of St. John of Damascus and hear the hymn, “This is the day of resurrection. Let us be rejoice and be illumined by the feast. Let us embrace each other. Let us call "brothers" even those who hate us. And forgive all by the resurrection!”

I pray that our beloved community of Holy Apostles will actively participate in Holy Week services.  Let us joyously walk this journey towards Pascha in hope of the Resurrection!                                               

                                       +  Fr. Tom