Dear Brothers & Sisters,

Due to the fact that Great Lent consumes the entire month of April, I would like to give you some concrete guidelines for "WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING DURING THE GREAT FAST WHICH WILL MAKE GREAT LENT MORE FULFILLING AND SPIRITUALLY REWARDING":

Receive Holy Communion regularly
Confess your sins thoroughly and sincerely
Turn off the television & radio for the entire Lenten season, except for news and serious or education programs
Do not visit or engage in outside activities for their own sake. Keep useless talking to a minimum. Do only necessary business, good works and acts of charity
Examine and measure every aspect of your life - family, work, society, politics, economics, values, desires, etc. - against the model set forth by the life and teaching of Jesus Christ
Question yourself in regard to love, truth, honesty, purity, humility, peace, forgiveness, justice, mercy, hungering and thirsting for God, wisdom and knowledge
In the name of Jesus Christ, forgive all who have offended you and seek forgiveness from those whom you have offended. If it will not be embarrassing or misinterpreted as an act of self-righteousness, express yourself as concretely as possible. Visit, make a phone call, etc
Set aside and give a sizable portion of your resources to others - the parish, the poor, a social or educational agency. Tell no one what you have done. Ask no gratitude and forgo requesting a receipt. Do not advertise what you are doing
Fast strictly all the time. At a minimum, eat no meat. Suit your fast to your work, but avoid luxury. Again, tell no one. Do not advertise or discuss your fasting with anyone and avoid judging others who may not be fasting with you
Pray at home at least at one fixed time each day. Choose a brief rule of prayer, but keep it faithfully
Read the scriptures in the same brief yet regular way. You may wish to follow the Church's calendar, read a chapter of a given book on a daily basis, or simply read and reflect upon passages which you happen upon. In addition, meditate upon the following: 1 John; Romans 12-14; Matthew 5-7 and John 14-17
Be faithful to Christ's Gospel in every word, action and thought - even the smallest or most insignificant
Participate in all of the weekly Lenten services, especially the Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts, Saturday evening Great Vespers, and the Sunday Divine Liturgy

If we do these things, not in a spirit of gloomy self-denial or irritated self-pity, we will gain an awareness of genuine peace and joy in communion with God and those around us. This is guaranteed - and our participation in and celebration of the feast of Our Lord's resurrection will be cherished forever!


With Love In Christ,
Fr Lev

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