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Guess I’ll See You At The 9th Hour

If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let him enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival.  If anyone is a wise servant, let him, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord.  If anyone has wearied himself in fasting, let him now receive his recompense.  If anyone has labored from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let him keep the feast. If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; for he shall suffer no loss. If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near without hesitation. If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let him not fear on account of his delay. For the Master is gracious and receives the last, even as the first; he gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first. He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one he gives, and to the other he is gracious. He both honors the work and praises the intention ...  Read More

So begins the stirring Paschal homily of St John Chrysostom read in every Orthodox Church on the great Feast of Pascha (Easter). Every year it seems Great Lent comes with high hopes and expectations that somehow this one will be special, more focused and spiritually profitable than in years past.  Promises made, goals set, all seem to quickly fade into the din of daily life. 

For the non-Orthodox reader, Pascha or Easter is considered the greatest holiday or feastday of the year for the Orthodox Christian.  The 40 days prior to Pascha comprises Great Lent a preparatory period with very clearly proscribed behavioral and spiritual guidelines.  Fasting from meat, fish and dairy is a major component along with many additional church services, particularly the beautiful Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (composed interestingly enough by Pope Gregory the Dialogist).  Abstinence from a variety of other pleasures is also the expectation. 

Orthodox view Lent very differently from Western Christians.  We see Great Lent as a time of repentance, as a “podvig”, a spiritual struggle whereby one is gradually transformed and open to the spiritual banquet of Pascha.  Lent is by design a therapeutic regime, a well conceived plan of spiritual transformation available to all who wish to partake; it really is quite remarkable, but never easy.

The Lenten worship is…a school of repentance. It teaches us what is repentance and how to acquire the spirit of repentance. It prepares us for and leads us to the spiritual regeneration without which ‘absolution’ remains meaningless. It is, in short, both teaching about repentance and the way of repentance. And since there can be no real Christian life without repentance, without this constant ‘re-evaluation’ of life, the Lenten worship is an essential part of the liturgical tradition of the Church.”
Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann

Like many Orthodox in America, I move in a non-Orthodox world.  None of my coworkers is Orthodox, most of my friends are not Orthodox or even religious for that matter.  Few have a clue what Lent is and most could really care less and perhaps only further confirms that I’m a bit cooky as I eat the salad while they dine on steak.  Work and social demands all continue unabated.  Keeping the Lenten fast on the go, is always a challenge.  Now I’m not making excuses or being judgmental, just stating a few facts.  All push and pull at the struggling pilgrim on his lenten journey.  Yet, no matter how meager my efforts, how many times I fail to live up to my own lenten expectations I take solice in the words of the great saint… “He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one he gives, and to the other he is gracious. He both honors the work and praises the intention”  and remain mindful that next year I get another chance to do it all over again. 

Thy resurrection, O Christ Savior, the angels in heaven sing. Do thou enable us on earth to glorify thee with pure hearts.
from Paschal Matins