I do not have a green thumb! Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t! I don’t even know what an Irish hammer looks like! I have, though, become pretty good at tending to my lawn. In my backyard we do not get a lot of direct sunlight. Trees and the layout of our home limit the amount of direct sunlight given to the lawn. Nonetheless, I have done a (fairly) good job maintaining the integrity of the lawn. I have become familiar with the type of grass seed that grows in shady places, fertilizers, and various soils. Springtime weather helps a great deal also! It is inspiring to see the grass seeds strengthen and grow. Every morning I enjoy pouring myself a cup of coffee and walking out to inspect my lawn, notice any areas of slow development, determine if this is the week that it needs to be cut, and try to schedule an opportunity to rake the leaves. Recently, my morning examination sparked an analogy to Great Lent.

Every Spring I give thought to, “What am I going to give up this Lent?” As if taking something away from my everyday routine or diet is going to help me in my spiritual growth. There are very little things that I have to “take away” from my lawn to keep it healthy. Of course, when a weed appears I quickly pluck it, but the health of the lawn relies on what I add to it. This is how we should approach Great and Holy Lent.

Year after year we talk about giving something up: meat, dairy, television, rock music, video games, etc. This is a good practice and is a necessity when planning for a productive Lenten Season. But, these are what I would consider the “weeds” that need to be plucked. Merely plucking weeds does not insure the health of a lawn. Water, sunlight and good soil is also needed.

Considering that grass grows greener when it is given the proper intake of water, sunlight and soil, so too would our souls if we add nutrients necessary to strengthen our souls during Lent. A good Lenten regimen includes not only removing the weeds and purifying our bodies and environment, but also requires that we introduce a steady course of prayer, almsgiving, and the daily study of Holy Scripture.

Imagine willing a lawn to grow green without the proper amount of water, sunlight and good soil. You could grab a cold glass of lemonade and beg the grass to grow green as you stand by idly, or you can roll up your sleeves and give the lawn what it needs to succeed. The same is especially true for our spiritual growth. We are not going to fully mature in our Faith simply by altering our diet.

The end result of properly tending to your lawn is enjoying its splendid beauty on a stunning spring day. We should equate this image to our Lenten journey. During the forty plus days of Lent how are you imagining the appearance of your soul? Do you want it to be full and green, or barren and dry? Lent is an opportunity for spiritual growth and development. It is a joyful time in which we should consider sowing seeds of faith in order to give us strength for the challenges we face throughout the rest of the year!

This Great and Holy Lent let us all enthusiastically gather for services promptly and full of excitement! Let us examine our hearts and tend that soil, lay down the seeds of truth, watering them with the love of our neighbor and allowing the sunshine of God’s grace to cover them!

  1. Regular and prompt attendance at Sunday Divine Liturgy. Regular indicates consisted attendance and prompt means being on time. We are on time for our soccer games, for work and school, and never pay $10 to walk into a movie 20 minutes late. It is time for us to reset Sunday as a “Day of Worship,” literally, “The Lord’s Day.” Services begin at 9:00 AM with Orthros.
  2. Daily Prayers. In order for our community to be focused on Christ, each of us, individually, needs to be set on Christ. Each day should begin with an intimate and personal conversation with Christ, TRUE PRAYER! Ten minutes in the morning, ten minutes in the evening. Prayer should also be offered before meals. As you pray over your food, 2 things should be included: 1.) Offering thanks to God for the blessings in your life, and 2.) A remembrance of the less fortunate.
  3. Volunteer! Join, sign-up, or assist with a ministry of the Church. Consider joining our Choir, Philoptochos, teach Sunday School, or offer your time to help plan and organize one of our many fundraisers.
  4. Educate yourself in the Word of God. Reading the Gospels and meditating on God’s Word is essential to Christian growth. Come to our Orthodox Study Classes at 7PM on Tuesday evenings and read the Bible daily.
  5. Forgiveness. Mend relationships that for one reason or another have deteriorated. Ask for and seek to offer forgiveness. Do not wait for the other person, you be the mature one and offer reconciliation.

Lenten Prayer Of St. Ephrem The Syrian

O Lord and Master of my life!
Take from me the spirit of laziness,
faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk.

But give rather the spirit of chastity,
humility, patience, and love to Your servant.

Yes, Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors and not to judge my brothers and sisters, for You are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.