Dearly beloved in Christ,
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts forty days. Some Christians follow a tradition of self-discipline, which in a token way, reflects our Lord’s days of fasting in the wilderness. Friday may be a total fast, or without meat. Others decide to go without something they specially like, or to eat less. Finding spiritual and/or physical benefit from such discipline, some resolve to continue it when Lent is over. Some churches ban weddings and other celebrations in Lent. Other Christians, whose traditions disdain seasonal observances, keep every day of the year free of self-indulgent excess, with room to celebrate when occasion demands.
Fasting is not only abstention from food. It is concentration on the Lord, His holiness, His Kingdom, and His will. Fasting brings spiritual power. Fasting is a heart’s cry to God to act. He does act when people fast. You are invited to the ministry of fasting. Fasting is also a form of mourning. It is mourning because of the believer’s poor spiritual condition when God has given him so much in Christ. It is mourning because of the worldly condition of the Church and her impotence against the enemy. It is mourning over the multitudes that are passing into a Christless eternity.
A different approach to fasting…
a. Fast from anger and hatred.
b. Fast from judging others.
c. Fast from discouragement.
d. Fast from complaining.
e. Fast from resentment or bitterness!
f. Fast from spending too much money.
The word Maundy comes from the Latin mandatum from which is derived the English word mandate. It means an “official command” or “instruction by authority”. The word command sounds too strong in the intimate context of the last meal. We might paraphrase Maundy Thursday as the Thursday night when Jesus asked his disciples to remember his last meal with them and to repeat it in his memory.
The cross is at the centre of the Christian faith. It is the test of everything that deserves to be called Christian. Without the mark of the cross we cease to be followers of Christ. The cross is the supreme symbol of God’s suffering love towards all those who suffer, teaching us that suffering can be overcome only by suffering and that God’s pain in Christ overcomes our pain. People like us who struggle with disappointment, confusion, fears, doubts and pain, and through encounters with the risen Lord, discover the truth about his resurrection and its power.
The election of the new office bearers for the year 2009-10 was held on 1st March. I take this opportunity to appreciate all the members for your Prayerful participation. I wish all the success to all the New Office Bearers and extend my sincere thanks to all the outgoing Office bearers for their valuable service to the Church.
Let us uphold all the New Office Bearers in our Prayers, so that their service will be a blessing to the Church and society.
During summer vacation most of you will be going to your native place. Let your stay at your respective places will be a blessing for them. Have healthy communication. Don’t entertain unhealthy talks. Make your children feel proud by telling that you belong from Kerala. Make your children to learn, read and write Malayalam and feel proud of it. You must visit the Church and participate in the Holy communion service. Give contribution to your mother parish.
I request all the members to participate actively in the passion week service along with your family. Let it be a time of retrospection and commitment.
Kindly uphold the parish activities in your Prayers.
May the Easter experience guide you in all its fullness.
God bless you.
Yours in Christ
Rev. Samson Samuel