Orthodox Christians and Holy Week

Once again, dear Faithful of St. Haralambos, I would like to ask you, “how is your Lenten Spiritual Journey progressing?”       

I pray thus far that you have observed, and will continue to observe the physical Fast from certain foods without any distractions and that you are avoiding any type of gathering that will distract you from your goal, (to receive Holy Communion physically and spiritually prepared).

Also pray that you are continuing your mental fast, by abstaining from unseemly thoughts, desires, words, deeds, criticisms and other undesirable things as well.

As always, there are those who claim to be Orthodox Christians, who have not, nor will, make the effort to grow spiritually.  To them Pascha, year in and year out, is a mere observance.  They will make their   token appearance on Holy Friday, put a couple of dollars in the basket to purchase a candle or two, begrudgingly come to church on Holy Saturday evening to hear “Christ is Risen” and immediately leave for home to “celebrate” the joy of the Resurrection, and we won’t see them again for another year.  How terrible this is!  And what a terrible example we are giving our young people.  Such people miss the entire meaning of Pascha, and what little joy of the Resurrection they may have felt, will quickly fade away until the following year.  I pray that the Faithful of St. Haralambos WILL NOT celebrate Pascha this way!