The Attitude of Lent
Every year, as I make my appointment for my annual physical I become more conscious and aware about the state of my health. Am I eating right? Are my cholesterol levels elevated? How is my heart and blood pressure? Am I in a regular exercise routine?
Side by side, my doctor asks questions and helps to determine the state of my physical health and often suggests certain supplements and life style changes that will impact my overall well-being.
Following my check-up I commit to better health through more exercise, taking my vitamins and eating right. It’s all about my attitude and how I respond to taking care of my body, mind and soul.
Joyously, every spring, our Holy Orthodox faith offers us the transforming experience of Great Lent to seriously battle against the evil forces in our life that keeps us from God. We are invited to pray with a repentant and eager spirit, fast more seriously, and examine the attitude of our heart and spiritual life.
We are given this time to pause and focus on the inner life – to let go of the vices and addictions that keep us from loving God and loving one another. Indeed, the spiritual struggle can be difficult. It requires self-disciple, attitude and humility. Listen to St. John Chrysostom urging on the faithful to begin the fast with an attitude of determination and strength.
As the fast begins, “Let us get ready and polish our spiritual weapons; as cultivators, let us sharpen our sickles; as sailors, let us order our thoughts against the waves of extravagant desires; as travelers, let us set out on the journey towards heaven; and as wrestlers let us strip for the contest. For the Christian is at the same time a soldier, a sailor, a plower and a wrestler. St. Paul states, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of evil. Put therefore the whole armor of God” St. John Chrysostom
The church offers us this time so that we can get back on course towards God’s kingdom. Just like we take our car for oil change and check up… just like have our teeth x-rayed and cleaned… Just like we visit the doctor for a yearly physical… it is time to set our priorities on our spiritual health.
The Triodion begins as we visit with Zacchaeus, the Publican and the Pharisee, and the Prodigal Son. Forgiveness Vespers marks the official beginning, and with Clean Monday the marathon will begin. Let’s make time to examine ourselves, our schedules, our commitments and our priorities that we may faithfully step into this Lenten season with preparedness, a repentant heart, an openness to God, wisdom, and soberness.
"Imitate the prodigal son: leave the city that starves you. Come and beseech Him and you will behold the glory of God. Your face shall be enlightened and you will rejoice in the sweetness of paradise. Glory to the Lord and Lover of mankind Who saves us!" St. Ephraim the Syrian
These powerful words from St. Ephraim should move our soul to an attitude of love, repentance and hope so that our loving Lord will show us the way back home as the prodigal son.
Let us embrace the attitude of confession! In the book “Soul Mending” Dn. John Chryssavgis writes, “confession can be looked at as a forward movement ‘into’ life. It is not an invitation to hopeless guilt but to freedom and responsibility. The purpose is not that we be ashamed or demoralized but it is rather to point us towards life; a life characterized by honesty, integrity and personal accountability to God, to all others, and to oneself.”
“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 incomparable love of the One who is ‘not’ of this world, the One who ‘demonstrates’ His own love toward us. The focal point should not be our imperfection but the perfect love of Jesus, who is good and loves humankind”.
Let us begin Great Lent with an eager attitude and integrity!
“Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.”
“We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.
And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes. “ Charles Swindoll
May we develop the joyous attitude that we ‘get’ to walk with Christ as he points us to His incomparable life, Kingdom and purpose! I am looking forward to sharing this journey with you.
Have a blessed Lent!
+fr. tom
