Order in the Church

This time of year, you can real feel the order in the Church. Since the beginning of the Triodion, you may have noticed the Church has not stopped to prepare us for the Great Fast. This is being accomplished not only in regard to fasting, since the fast from meat begins today, but with the spiritual themes and even the Lectionary.

Everything in the Church calendar flows together, and reinforces our practice as Orthodox Christians. So much emphasis is given to fasting, which we will discuss throughout the Great Fast, as it is known as the Great Fast for a reason, but there is so much more to prepare. One thing you may have noticed is the Lectionary.

In the past couple weeks, the Church has been ‘wrapping up’ the readings from the New Testament. Once we get to Clean Monday, this year on March 7th, the New Testament will only be read on Saturdays and Sunday. During the week, we will read from the Old Testament. That begins this week on Wednesday and Friday.

When you read the readings of the day, you might ask yourself why the Church is reading about Holy Week events now weeks before Holy Week. The answer is simple really. We are being reminded of the destination of our journey. The Epistles, today John’s 3rd Universal Letter, are coming to an end. We will begin again after Pascha.

So, you see, it isn’t just fasting the Church is talking about. That would make our entire journey a physical one, which it is not. The reminder of the destination, combined with the coming to the end of the New Testament, is what will prepare us for the intensity of the Great Fast.

One final note. You will notice the Church does not include Revelation in the Lectionary. This has been the tradition for centuries, as it is prophecy, which is difficult to interpret, but also because over the centuries many have abused the message by attempting to ‘scare’ people into submission. The Church does not scare people, but desires us to follow Christ with our free will. Rather than read Revelation in public, a few verses here and there are included within the services of the Church to bring our attention to God’s coming judgment which cannot be escaped.

As you make your way through the final week of preparation for the Great Fast, make note of the effort the Church is using to bring your attention to the goal. The goal is union with Christ, living as He lived, living for Him.