Readings During the Holy Great Fast

Journey through the Holy Great Fast
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Holy Great Fast: Sunday Readings Only
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Fasting & Prayer Program 2015
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The 21 Martyrs of Libya: Videotaped Instanteous Sainthood

The 21 men of Libya are men of valor and courage. We need to respect them for who they are and what befall them. The 21 martyrs of Libya are to be commended for allowing those of all beliefs, nationalities, and political platforms to bear witness to instantaneous sainthood through videography. In today's contemporary world bearing witness to murder can easily be accomplished with malice aforethought.

Malice aforethought is a premeditated state of mind to harm another in a most desecrated bodily way. Beheading occurred in Biblical antiquity and was considered one of the harshest of punishments such as that of St. John the Baptist. King Herod took the life of St. John the Baptist--in particular he had him beheaded. The king then took the head put it on a platter and placed it in the midst of a party.

King Herod's reckless indifference to human life fulfilled no land gain to his kingdom, improved no relations between countries, and did not gain him wealth. It actually did not gain him the admiration of a woman he was ardently seeking to secure. All it accomplished in the historical sense was to display before the world a malignant heart.
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The Holy Great Fast and Spiritual Discipline

The Holy Great Fast is often referred to as "The Spring of Our Spiritual Life". Spring being the most beautiful season of the year and a time of spiritual renewal.

The 55 days of the Holy Great Fast are considered the most Holy days of fasting of the Coptic Church. Fifty-five days include the forty days, which were fasted by the Lord Himself, the Passion Week, and the first initial week to prepare us spiritually before this great season of renewal. We fast to commemorate His sufferings on the Holy Cross, for spiritual discipline and our salvation.

Much has been written regarding fasting associated with foods. Yet, fasting is not only abstaining from certain foods. It is a time for us to have our hearts filled with the Holy Spirit. How can our hearts be filled with the Holy Spirit and guarded against all sin?

When we fast we exercise self-control. Fasting provides an occasion to enrich the soul and elevate it to a higher level of spiritual discipline. St Isaac said, "Having control of what we say is better than having control over our bodies, and guarding our hearts against sin is best of all."
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The Lord Jesus Christ THE Passover Lamb

(Most Biblical references apply the term "Passover" to the Paschal meal and the Feast of Unleavened Bread which followed. The Hebrew word for Passover, "pesach," is derived from the verb that means "to pass over".)

The celebration of the Passover and the correlating feast was instituted by God Himself to commemorate the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and the sparing of their firstborn when the destroying angel smote the firstborn of the Egyptians.

"It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, for He passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt, when He struck down the Egyptians" (Exodus 12:27).

History would also record this deliverance as the birthday of the Hebrew Nation. It was to be Israel's freedom day celebration.
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Forgiveness: A Journey to Healing

"'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'...'So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.'" (Matthew 18:22,35).

Forgiveness is primarily a favor done to oneself. This is because you may forgive while the opponent does not care if you do or you do not. Those who crucified the Lord Jesus did not care whether He would forgive them or not. However, He did so that healing to His emotions may take place and to set a precedence for us. Holding a grudge entails loss of peace whereas forgiveness accelerates healing.

The question often asked "does one forgive just like that" is answered by our Lord's extensively comprehensive teaching on forgiveness:

"Then Peter came to Him and said, 'Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?' Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'" (Matthew 18:21-22).
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Confession: Absolution, Guidance, and Growth - Part Two

A confessor comes to the seat of confession aspiring to hear God’s voice through the father of confession. This is not surprising because the Holy Spirit, one of whose titles is "the counselor" (Isaiah 11:2), functions in the Mystery of Confession. Also, the priest represents Jesus Christ and is His servant and steward of His mysteries. If this is the case, why do some leave the seat of confession still not feeling relieved? The fault might partly reside in the advice given and partly in the attitude of the confessor himself. St. Paul’s words to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:1-5) concerning people with itching ears show that itching ears usually indicate sensitivity against the word of truth which causes discomfort to those who want to go after their own counsel. A good example is King Herod’s reaction to John the Baptist’s admonitions and warning against the fatal blunder of marrying his brother’s wife. He ended up getting rid of John the Baptist and killed him. "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers" (2 Timothy 4:3). A confessor of such an attitude seeks someone to tell him what he wants to hear not the words of truth.
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Voyage Into the True Deep: Discovering the Kingdom of God
Who Can Bind the Plunderer?
What is That in Your Hand?...The Lord is in Need of It