How To Prepare For Lent

THE SCHOOL OF REPENTANCE

Pre-Lenten Sundays: "For repentance, above everything else. This is a return to the genuine order of things, the restoration of the right vision. It is, therefore, rooted in humility. And humility—the divine and the beautiful humility—is its fruit and end" (Fr. Schmemann, Great Lent, p. 20).

Key Term: Repentance (Metanoia) "a change in one's mind-set or view in life."

I. Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee (This is a fast free week)

Major Theme:

  • Humility 

"Humility is a grace in the soul and with a name known only to those who have had experience of it "learn from Me," He said. That is, not from an angel, not from a man, not from a book, but "from Me," that is, from My dwelling within you, from My illumination and action within you, for ‘I am gentle and meek of heart (Mt. 11:29) in thought and in spirit, and your souls will find rest from conflicts and relief from evil thoughts." (John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, p. 219).

Scripture Passages: Luke 18:9-14; II Tim. 3:10-15; Dan 4:28-33

II. Sunday of the Prodigal Son

Major Theme:

  • Return from exile

Stages of Repentance

  1. Sin is exile.
  2. Enslavement to strangers
  3. Hunger.
  4. The action to change, "I will rise up and go" (v. 8)
  5. Return home

Scripture Passages: Luke 15:11-32; I Cor. 6:12-20; Ezek. 18:30; Jn. 6:37-40

III. Sunday of the Last Judgement

Major Themes:

  • Christ as Judge
  • Christian love is the fruit of repentance
  • Great Lent as a preparation for the second coming of Christ

Scripture Readings: Mt. 25:31-46; I Cor. 8:8-9:2; Isaiah 58:1-14; and Mt. 9:14-17

IV. The Sunday Before Lent

Major Themes:

  • The Liturgical now
  • The expulsion of Adam from Paradise
  • Paradise opened again through the death and resurrection of Christ
  • Forgiveness (Mt. 6:14-21). Mutual forgiveness is required for our fasting and repentance to be genuine.

Prayer

  • Prayer is being with God (our Origin). It unites us with Christ, it is the highest form of action, and it is an expression of love.
  • Meaningless prayer: When we attempt to change God’s mind; when we use it as a charm or magic to preserve us (i.e. chain letters to St. Jude); when it is mechanical.
  • Effective Prayer: Dialogue (synergistic) with God; leads us to an awareness of self; and spiritually alerts us to movements within.

Practical Tips

  • Establish a regular time and place for prayer, "Holy Hour."
  • Use a prayer book to guide you
  • "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 45:11)
  • Seek to remember God throughout the day
  • Establish a cycle of preparation and fulfillment

Mother Teresa: "We must love one another as God loves each of us. To be able to love, we need a clean heart. Prayer is what gives us a clean heart. The fruit of prayer is a deepening of faith, and the fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service, which is compassion in action."