Time for Repentance

During the first week of Great Lent, it is customary to sing the Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete, a profound poem of repentance. St Andrew wrote this poem in the Seventh Century, as a dialogue between himself and his soul. As we enter the Great Fast this week, the Church invites us to do the same, to discuss sin and righteousness with our soul.

On the surface, we each pay lip service to being sinners. We say the right prayers during liturgy. We do our bows during Great Lent. We even schedule the occasional confession with our Spiritual Father. But do we truly challenge our soul to repentance? This stanza says it all…

I have put before you, my soul, Moses’ account of the creation of the world, and after that all the recognized Scriptures that tell you the story of the righteous and the wicked. But you, my soul, have followed the second of these, not the first, and have sinned against God. (from the 9th Ode of the Canon on Clean Monday)

As I mentioned yesterday, the pandemic has created a situation in which we have neglected our spiritual relationship with God and each other. Many have even chosen, CHOSEN, to refrain from attending divine services in the Church in some sort of protest against wearing masks. We have indeed become the same judgmental Christians that St Paul wrote against. In refraining from the divine services, and in essence refusing to receive Holy Communion, we have been separated from God and each other.

Being in communion with God is the very reason He became incarnate. It is the very reason the Church exists. It is the purpose of life itself. To refuse Holy Communion, which is the result of our refusal to attend divine services, is a wicked choice as described in the verse quoted above. Thankfully, Great Lent is a time for repentance, and since we have not yet died, it is not yet too late for us. Go to Church! Forgive those who argue about masks. Schedule a confession with your spiritual father. Choose righteousness!