"Blessed is God who cares for the salvation of men"

Reflection on the 5th Sunday of Great Lent

They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.” Mk10:32-34

What a wonderful season Great Lent is! A time for spiritual and physical growth. Here is where we strengthen our relationship with the All-Holy-Trinity; drawing from that most precious water which never allows one to thirst; stemming from the well of All-Goodness! It is also the time to self examine oneself, improving where there is need for improvement and letting go of things that essentially bind us in shackles, hindering our growth in becoming true witnesses to the Gospel of Christ!

Having stated thus, this time can be truly edifying, seeing such positive changes within one self; the hand of God present and actively working in ones life! However, it does not mean Lent is a walk in the park, where the Lord makes our lives comfy and cosy and it goes without suffering or challenges- on the contrary. There is the reality of spiritual warfare, whether one wishes to believe it or not. The job of the clergy is to teach truth to their flock, however sadly there are priests and bishops out there that would laugh at a person who would suggest they were being tormented by an evil spirit.

May I start by saying such clergy have totally lost all concept of the spiritual reality that exists in the world. Such men (clergy) doubt Epiclesis - the calling down of the Holy-Spirit upon the offered bread and wine which after thus (Epiclesis) has become the true and precious Body and Blood our our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Therefore, if one cannot accept the Mystery of Holy Communion, how are they then excepted to believe in spiritual warfare.

I will give a very recent and personal account that happened to me only a few weeks ago.

One night I was having a horrible dream which basically involved an evil spirit tormenting me and my family. The dream felt so real it woke me up. As I lay in bed, I noticed a dim light flash however it stopped, so I didn't think much of it. I then heard a loud thump but also dismissed it to have been the cat or the dog.

The lights then flashed two more time to which I got up to investigate. As I walked around the house I prayed the Jesus Prayer - "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, Have mercy upon me a sinner". The light flashed one more time, however this time I saw where it came from. The light came from the bathroom at the rear of the house. The light switch was in-between on and off. Thus when I realised what had happened, I knew that it wasn't my children because they went to sleep well before my wife and I and we use our ensuite bathroom. The dead give away was the bad dream but also the feeling you get when you know something is staring at you and the hairs on your neck stand up. I then rebuked it in the name of Jesus and blessed the house the following morning.

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”  “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”  “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” Mk10:35-40

Today the Church commemorates Saint Mary of Egypt. The story of her life is truly inspiring. She is one of the greatest example of humility in history. Her full story can be found on the OCA website.

In short, her story begins with a young monk Saint Zosimas. He grew up around the monastery as a child, spending most of his time with the monks, eventually becoming a monk from a very early age. Being so young and with no life experience, unfortunately pride got the better of him. He felt that he had learned all there is to know about the ascetic life perfecting monasticism.

So in order to ground him, the Lord sent him off to a different monastery in Egypt in order to ground him and that he would cross paths with Saint Mary to learn humility.

Thus, Saint Mary was a very wealthy woman who enjoyed getting drunk with the company of men and fulfilling the passions of the flesh. This went on for many years when one day she witnessed a crowed on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the feast of the Exaltation of the Lord's Cross.

She saw this as an opportunity for a new adventure, even seducing some of the men that were on the pilgrimage. However, when they came to the Church doors she said that it was as if a force was preventing her to enter. Thus upon seeing an icon of the Holy Theotokos she prayed; asking the blessed Mother to intercede for her to Her Son Jesus to permit her to enter the church and venerate the true cross. She vowed to the Theotokos that if she entered the church she would never fornicate again and commit her whole life to Christ.

Thus, after praying she attempted one more time to enter the church to which she was successful; venerating the true cross of Christ. Then staying true to her word she spent the rest of her days living in the dessert always battling with sentiments of her past life. Every now and then the Lord and Theotokos would give her relief and consolation. However, for the most part it was spent in constant prayer and hardship always referring to herself as a sinner.

Both Saints begged that they would pray for each other, for they both saw the grace of God within them. They both prayed and blessed each other learning two valuable lessons - Humility and worthiness in the eyes of God and self!

Saint Zosimas set aside a portion of the blessed Body and Blood of the Lord on Holy Thursday in order to commune Saint Mary. Thus, as Saint Zosimas was approaching to bring her the Holy Mysteries, he saw her walking on water and he wished to prostrate in veneration to which she quickly forbade him to do so.

After she received the Lord in the Holy Mysteries they prayed together, she then disappeared into the wilderness. Many years later St Zosimas found her perfectly preserved body with her arms folded over her chest and her head facing east. From that day till now her memory has been celebrated and remembered as a great model of humility.

When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mk10:41-45

I pray we have a great forthcoming Holy Triduum. May we truly delve into Christ's Glorious Resurrection and enjoy His Victory which He has granted us to be partakers of; further enjoying the All Glorious Banquet which awaits us!

Through the prayers of our Glorious Lady Theotokos, of Her spouse Joseph of Nazareth and of Saints Mary of Egypt and Zosimas, Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us and save us. Amen

Troparion to Saint Mary of Egypt

In you, O Mother, was preserved with exactness what was according to the image; for you took up the Cross and followed Christ. By so doing, you taught us to disregard the flesh, for it passes away; but to care for the soul, since it is immortal. Therefore, O Venerable Mary, your spirit rejoices with the Angels.