Joy of the Lent Season
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
After concluding the Season of the Epiphany and the three weeks of Commemorations, we have now reached Sunday of the Entrance into the blessed Great Lent. We have then started a new season in our liturgical calendar, a season as joyous as the one that has just ended.
In the Season of the Epiphany, Jesus revealed his glory and his disciples believed in him. At the entrance into lent, Jesus revealed his glory again at the wedding of Cana in Galilee and the faith of his disciples became stronger. At that wedding, Jesus transformed water into good wine, leaving the chief steward astonished for its good taste, thus transforming his disciples into a group of believers, and his mother Mary into the first disciple, the new Eve.
In the Season of the Great Lent, our faith is strengthened so we can be ready for the joy of the glorious resurrection. Saint Paul, however, cautions us today in his letter to the Romans against erring in our faith, urging us to pay special attention to our words and deeds so we do not consider anything unclean as this may ruin someone for whom Christ died. It is then necessary to be ready for our journey into the Great Lent with a repentant spirit and true contrition so that our actions can be the expression of our true faith.
The Lord wants us to make our lent a time of spiritual joy to complement, through fasting, what he started at Cana so our joy lasts. The Lord warns us not to put on a gloomy look when we fast like the hypocrites, but “when you fast, put scent on your head and wash your face” (Matthew 6: 16-17). The fasting that the Lord wants from you is to “share your food with the hungry and shelter the homeless; if you see someone lacking clothes, to clothe him, and do not turn away from your own kin” (Isaiah 58: 7). Thus we learn from Jesus how to fast, and we accompany him in his fasting and learn from him how to strive.
Our parish is blessed, it offers us many options to help us fulfil our obligations during Lent. Let’s start our journey together with the celebrations of Ash Monday at 7.00 am, 8.45 am, 5.00 pm and 7.00 pm. If you are unable to attend a full mass, participate at least in the first 25 minutes of the mass to be present during the service of the Word and the Rite of the Blessing of the Ashes. The Stations of the Cross, evening prayer and Adoration of the Cross will be held on Fridays during the Lent Season, at 6.00 pm in Arabic and 8 pm in English. If you are able to help with the charitable work – giving food, clothes or shelter to the poor and needy – “Heaven on Earth” will be grateful for your help. If you want to deepen your knowledge in the faith, the Family of Divine Word, the bible study group, the Faith Formation team in English, all welcome you in their evenings which they hold on different days of the week. During Lent, the formation lessons in English will continue every Wednesday evening with the Living the Gospel group. For those who are younger, they can join either the Fersen or the Teens (Years 7 to 9) every Saturday afternoon in the Parish Centre, the older youths can be with Come Alive (Years 10 to 12), every second Wednesday evening. Adoration of the Eucharist every Thursday evening. Mid-day prayer at 12.15 pm Monday to Friday. Also, the Elderly Committee holds many activities while the Sodality holds lunch every Wednesday at 12 pm. Please take some time to go through the Parish bulletin this week to learn more about the activities of all these groups in our parish, and think of participating in a program during this lent which helps you to be ready for the glorious resurrection in a way that pleases the Lord.
O God, restore our thoughts and actions to do your will so we do not be a cause of fall for anyone.
