March 2022 Letter

Dear brethren,

A few days ago the Great Lent started. Here are some contemplations on this occasion:

The fathers of the Church arranged the Gospels of Holy lent Sundays, by the Holy Spirit, as a journey to purify the soul from its passions and as a spiritual opportunity to sanctify it.

• On the Sunday before lent, the Church gives us 3 ways for healing: By charity, the soul is healed from greed, by prayer it is healed from self-centeredness, by focusing on the knowledge of God rather than herself, and by fasting, it is healed from lust.
• On the first Sunday (Treasures), the Church puts before us the goal of the journey: God’s ownership of the heart, as Christ says: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Mt 6: 33). Furthermore, it warns us against wrong goals “No one can serve two masters”.
• On the second Sunday (Temptation) the church alerts us to the inevitability of the spiritual war. The enemy hates attention to soul’s healing and purification by repentance. The Church, however, points us to the victory of Jesus on our behalf and His use of spiritual war weapons, as we find Him fasting, praying and reciting the Word of God to defeat Satan.
• The following three Sundays the Church gives us examples of repentance, healing and self-purification: On the third Sunday (Prodigal Son) we see an example of those of us who as children, willingly stray away from their Father, then repent and return by ourselves. From it we learn 7 steps to practice the sacrament of repentance and confession: 1) returning to self, 2) realizing our sinful condition, 3) deciding to change, 4) self-condemnation and judgment, 5) getting out of the circle of sin, 6) the actual orientation towards our Father, God, 7) confession and receiving forgiveness.
• As for the fourth Sunday (Samaritan woman), we see an example of the thirsty soul for a strange love. The Lord tells her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again” (John 4: 13). He meets her halfway while she is looking for healing away from Him. He offers her the “living water”, His Holy Spirit, as a healing medicine. She no longer thirsts but transforms into a fountain of water springing to eternal life, watering others with her.
• The fifth Sunday (Paralytic) is an example of those of us who were laid down completely paralyzed by sin. The master goes to him in his place and raises him up. This gospel provides a message of hope, where Jesus offers to raise whoever is paralyzed by sin for many years. However, this is done with one condition that the person is willing to be healed, “Do you want to be made well?” (John 5: 6).
• The sixth Sunday (Born blind) reveals the divine ability of our incarnate God of creating new eyes. This is a symbol of the rebirth of water and Spirit through Holy Baptism that gives the soul spiritual insight. Hence, this Sunday is called “Baptism Sunday”.
• Then comes the seventh Sunday (Palm) and the joyful entrance of Christ to our inner Jerusalem, our souls, after her recovery by repentance.

May we all enjoy in this Holy lent the spiritual healing of our souls through the true physician, our Lord Jesus Christ to whom is the glory forever. Amen

Belleville, March 1, 2022

رسالة شهر مارس ٢٠٢٢