An End Brings a New Beginning

As we wrap up the Triodion Period this week, our annual Lectionary is coming to an end. Beginning next week, we will read from the New Testament only on Saturdays and Sundays. The weekdays are reserved for Old Testament readings during the Great Fast. There are just a few more days to inspire us to get ready for the Fast.

The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth. Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in health; I know that it is well with your soul.  For I greatly rejoiced when some of the brethren arrived and testified to the truth of your life, as indeed you do follow the truth.  No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth. Beloved, it is a loyal thing you do when you render any service to the brethren, especially to strangers, who have testified to your love before the church.  You will do well to send them on their journey as befits God’s service.  For they have set out for his sake and have accepted nothing from the heathen.  So we ought to support such men, that we may be fellow workers in the truth. I have written something to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge my authority.  So if I come I will bring up what he is doing, prating against me with evil words.  And not content with that, he refuses himself to welcome the brethren, and also stops those who want to welcome them and puts them out of the church. Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good.  He who does good is of God; he who does evil has not seen God.  Demetrios has testimony from every one, and from the truth itself; I testify to him too, and you know my testimony is true. I had much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink; I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face. Peace be to you.  The friends greet you.  Greet the friends, every one of them.

3^rd John 1.1-15

In today’s letter from Saint John we hear him plan to visit in person rather than ‘saying everything’ in a letter. The time of Christ on earth was the end of the Old Testament time, which was a time to hear about God in letters.

The end of Christ’s time on earth was the beginning of a new opportunity to meet Him ‘face to face’ rather than just hear about Him in the Holy Scriptures. The Triodion has prepared us to meet God face to face in the Holy Eucharist, not just read about Him in the Bible.

Although I often write about our communion with God, today I invite you to pause for a moment and reflect on the past year. This week is your chance to get ready for the Great Fast and another intense journey of prayer, fasting, almsgiving and Communion.

You are not the same person you were a year ago. In a sense, your life has come to an end, and you have a new beginning to dedicate your life to Christ, face to face. To remind us of God’s promise, the Church returns to the beginning of Genesis to start the story over.

You may want to consider the Great Fast a ‘review period’ before the final exam. Just like we don’t like to dwell on just one verse of the Scriptures, we shouldn’t dwell on just one day of our life in Christ. We have a past which brought us to today, and we have a future in Christ if we choose.

Over the past week or so people have been asking my why we are reading about the Passion of Christ when Pascha is still so many weeks away. Practically speaking we are wrapping up the lectionary. Spiritually speaking we are being reminded of what brought us to today.

Make notice of what Saint John says in his letter today. Some are talking nonsense about the Church and refusing the Church’s authority. Don’t follow them. Don’t be trapped by their secret agenda to defeat the Gospel. YES! There will always be those who wish to defeat the Gospel.

Saint John wants us to “follow the truth” which we received from the Saints. The truth of the Gospel is for everyone, not just a select few already inside the Church. Over the next several weeks we will be reminded of what happens when people try to keep the Gospel secret. Christ is always victorious.

If we have fallen short in the past year to “follow the truth” this will be a new beginning for us. Don’t be afraid to follow the Church. Meet with your spiritual father to make a plan for the Great Fast. Don’t ‘go it alone’ another year. Accept the authority of the Church through your spiritual father.