The Great Lent

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks about the spirituality of the Great Lent as presented in the Church readings, explaining that fasting is not merely abstaining from food, but rather a true call to repentance and returning to God.

He confirms that the purpose of fasting is to free the person from the control of materialism and the love of money, so that the person may live by the spirit and depend on God rather than on material abilities. The Church also calls the believer to store treasures in heaven through works of mercy, love, and service.

Then His Holiness explains the order of the Great Lent readings, clarifying that every Sunday carries a spiritual message about repentance and salvation, such as:

• The Sunday of Temptation, which alerts the person to the wars of Satan during spiritual struggle.
• The Sunday of the Prodigal Son, which declares the possibility of returning to God مهما كانت الخطية.
• The Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, which explains that the sinful soul can become a preaching and witnessing soul.
• The Sunday of the Paralytic and the Man Born Blind, which symbolize that sin is a sickness and spiritual blindness that need divine healing.

He also focuses on the fact that the most dangerous thing facing a person is not falling into sin, but rather not repenting and falling into despair. He confirms that the mercy of God is able to raise the person مهما طال بقاؤه في الخطية.

The lecture also explains that the Great Lent calls the person to serve others and seek the salvation of souls, because many only need someone to hold their hands and lead them to repentance and life with God.

Then His Holiness connects repentance with baptism and Palm Sunday, explaining that after the person dies to the world and to sin, he receives Christ as King over his heart and entire life.

He concludes that the path of true fasting leads to carrying the cross and suffering with Christ, and whoever shares with the Lord in struggle and the cross will also rejoice in His Resurrection and glory. Therefore, the Great Lent is a complete spiritual school that leads the person from repentance to the Kingdom and then to the joy of Resurrection.

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