GLORY BE TO THE TRIUNE GOD
Dear Beloved in CHRIST,
We have now entered into the next phase of our spiritual lives, as do every year that GOD gives us – the Great Lent Period.
Once a student wanted to know the relevance and relationship of the Old and the New Testaments. The teacher replied, “The New Testament is concealed in the Old Testament and the Old Testament is revealed in the New Testament.” (St. Augustine). He further explained that incidents in Old Testaments are examples, models and prototypes of those in the New Testament. Well-known examples are Israel’s Exodus of 40 years, 40 days of fasting by the people of Nineveh and the 40 days and 40 nights of fasting and the temptation of our Lord JESUS.
The Old Testament records Israel’s 40-year journey through the desert, where they repented and received GOD’s covenant and the Ten Commandments. Israel entered the Promised Land full of joy and glorified GOD. Similar example is that of the people of Nineveh. When GOD warned them through the Prophet Jonah, they fasted, prayed and repented for 40 days for the forgiveness and mercy of GOD. Our Loving GOD forgave them and saved them from punishment.
In the New Testament (St. Matthew 4:1-11), our Lord JESUS, prior to beginning His Public Ministry, fasted for 40 days and 40 nights and prevailed over the temptations of Satan. Our Lord showed us that we too can attain spiritual strength through fasting and prayer, which will help to victoriously overcome worldly challenges.
We also find the example of ‘desert’ for both Israel’s Exodus and our Lord’s fasting. Our Holy Fathers taught us that desert is a place of testing and endurance. ‘Desert’ symbolizes the terrain in which we get tested, we humble ourself of self-esteem and get transformed into a personality that is acceptable to GOD. GOD takes care of our ‘needs’, but our ‘necessities’ should not become ‘desires’, which returns to us as temptations, that lead us to sin against GOD. Being His Creation, we should strive to obey and follow the Teachings of the LORD our GOD always.
The Holy Week (Passion Week) is the time period, when we are reminded about the trials and sufferings of our Lord for us. The Triumphal Entry of our Lord to Jerusalem (Hosannah); the Passover (Maundy Thursday); our Lord illustrates to us on humility, by washing the feet of his Disciples; the epitome of His Love by dying on the Cross for our sins (Good Friday) and finally the greatest of our hope in His Victorious Salvation (Easter).
So, may this Great Lent be a period of self-realization and self-denial that will help us towards repentance and transformation into the Christian love and character, fully acceptable to GOD. Let the Love of CHRIST reflects and His Grace shines through us to our fellow beings. May the Love of our FATHER, Grace of our LORD JESUS CHIRST and the Communion of the HOLY SPIRIT, be with all of you. The prayers of the Holy Virgin St. Mary, the Mother of our GOD, St. Thomas, the Apostle of India, all Holy Fathers and Saints be with all of us and our children.
GOD Bless us all.
