The Journey of Lent St. Mary & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church Youth Meeting February 6, 2015

How to approach Lent? Let us receive with joy, O faithful, the divinely inspired announcement of Lent Let us receive with joy, O faithful, the divinely inspired announcement of Lent Like Ninevites of old,…let us prepare for the Master’s communion performed in Zion Like Ninevites of old,…let us prepare for the Master’s communion performed in Zion Let us wash ourselves with tears for its divine purification Let us wash ourselves with tears for its divine purification Let us pray to behold the fulfillment of Pascha, the true Revelation Let us pray to behold the fulfillment of Pascha, the true Revelation Do not deprive us of our expectation, O Lover of Man Do not deprive us of our expectation, O Lover of Man

The Lent as a journey Each journey must have a destination, so what is the destination for the Lenten journey? Each journey must have a destination, so what is the destination for the Lenten journey? Easter is not just one of the church’s feasts, nor is it just a commemoration of a historical event Easter is not just one of the church’s feasts, nor is it just a commemoration of a historical event Easter is the celebration of the new life which has been given to each one of us Easter is the celebration of the new life which has been given to each one of us When was this life given to us??? When was this life given to us???

Lent as a journey The new life was given to us in Baptism The new life was given to us in Baptism It is a gift that alters our attitude toward everything in this world It is a gift that alters our attitude toward everything in this world Unfortunately, however, we often lose and betray this gift, and live our lives as if nothing had happened and as if Christ did not rise from the dead Unfortunately, however, we often lose and betray this gift, and live our lives as if nothing had happened and as if Christ did not rise from the dead

The meaning of Lent The church has instituted Lent to help us recover this vision, to remind us of the great gift we have received The church has instituted Lent to help us recover this vision, to remind us of the great gift we have received The church life and liturgy are designed to help us taste this wonderful life and Kingdom, so that we can have the courage to make the right decision The church life and liturgy are designed to help us taste this wonderful life and Kingdom, so that we can have the courage to make the right decision This world tells us “be happy, take it easy, follow the broad way.” Christ, on the other hand, tells us “to choose the narrow way”, for this is the road to the only true and genuine happiness and JOY This world tells us “be happy, take it easy, follow the broad way.” Christ, on the other hand, tells us “to choose the narrow way”, for this is the road to the only true and genuine happiness and JOY

The meaning of Lent In the early church, Lent was designed to prepare the “catechumens” to receive baptism. In the early church, Lent was designed to prepare the “catechumens” to receive baptism. This same meaning remains the same This same meaning remains the same –Easter is our return to our own Baptism –Lent is the preparation for that return

Key Concepts The desire The desire Humility Humility The return from exile The return from exile Forgiveness Forgiveness

THE DESIRE !!! Man follows his desire. As the Gospel teaches us “where your treasure is, your heart will be also” Man follows his desire. As the Gospel teaches us “where your treasure is, your heart will be also” What do we really desire ??? What do we really desire ??? The story of Zacchaeus The story of Zacchaeus

HUMILITY The story of the Publican and the Pharisee The story of the Publican and the Pharisee What is humility? What is humility? –We can only learn humility if we continue to look at Christ –Humility is the beginning of true repentance

THE RETURN FROM EXILE We currently live in exile, away from our true home We currently live in exile, away from our true home Lent and repentance is our return from exile Lent and repentance is our return from exile Repentance has to be accompanied by this feeling that we are in exile, away from God, and that we badly NEED to return Repentance has to be accompanied by this feeling that we are in exile, away from God, and that we badly NEED to return The story of the prodigal son The story of the prodigal son

The bond of Love Having experienced God’s love and forgiveness, we extend that love to others Having experienced God’s love and forgiveness, we extend that love to others We experience and live the communion of love, which is at the center of the life of church, and at the center of God Himself. We experience and live the communion of love, which is at the center of the life of church, and at the center of God Himself.