Dearly beloved in Christ
Greetings in the name our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
As we continue in the blessed time of Great Lent, it is my joy to address you all again through our News Letter to share some more thoughts about Great Lent. I request you to read this letter as a continuation of the previous one. The constitution of the Mar Thoma church has made it obligatory for all faithful believers of the church to observe it regularly as it thinks that the life of a Christian believer should be an imitation of Jesus Christ's journey from Bethlehem to Golgotha and to the mount of resurrection. Lent is a spiritual retreat of the Church, through which we meditate upon the cross of Christ and submit to it in a sense of complete repentance.
The Word of God is the center of our lent through which we attain reconciliation and healing (2Cor 5:16-21). It is a time to reconcile with the whole of creation and to heal the wounds of the world to make it a habitable one. St. Paul says in Rom. 12:1&2 “Therefore I urge you my brethren, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is the spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the patterns of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will”. Lent is a spiritual retreat of the Church, through which we meditate upon the cross of Christ and submit to it in a sense of complete repentance.
As we all aware, each person is the unity of body, mind and soul. A right spiritual diet and a discipline of fasting go together and strengthen each other. Fasting and prayer make us more sensitive to the presence of Jesus Christ with us. So the church urges us to take certain restrictions on food and drink and it demands from us serious reflection, contemplation, self examination and renewed commitment.
The purpose of observing lent should not be receiving any special favors from God or to divert divine intension on the one who fasts. But it is intended as a spiritual exercise for an experience of deeper communion with God, which enables a person to see the divine purpose on him/her. Thus, fast prepares a person to train his body, mind and soul towards God and to needs of human beings. So it involves learning process. As a good athlete go through rigorous self discipline in order to keep ones body, mind and muscles in good condition so should a Christian keep his/her body, mind and soul in good condition and under self control to achieve these two ends.
Through the experiences of great lent we are moving towards the great joy ad hope of resurrection. The resurrection proves that his work on the cross is final and sufficient-power over all enemies such as the devil, sin or death. His resurrection gives victory over the fear of death. It is the source of hope to face the tough realities of day today life.
With love and prayers,
M C. Varghese Achen