Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Congratulations with the feast of the Resurrection of the Lord, as well as the feastday of the apostle and evangelist Matthew and with the beginning of the forty-day Nativity fast!

In today’s Gospel reading we heard the parable of the Good Samaritan which Christ said in answer to a certain lawyer’s question, “Who is my neighbour?” It’s also interesting to note what took place at the beginning of the Gospel reading. Let’s remember that the first question posed by the lawyer was about the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven and that this same lawyer correctly answered his own question. The answer is, of course, that we must love God as much as this is possible and our neighbours as ourselves. In the Gospels Christ especially notes these two greatest commandments not once, but three times (in today’s reading from Luke; to another lawyer before His passion (Matthew 22: 35, Mark 12: 28); and, finally, in His farewell discussion with His disciples where He mentions only the second (John 13: 34)). Not that long ago we heard the second mention of these commandments when we were reading the Gospel according to Matthew (September 20th). Today, as we did back then, let’s note that it isn’t all that easy to fulfill these commandments. It isn’t that easy to love God with all one’s soul and your neighbour as yourself when your own life is filled with so many cares. Christ seems to accent this at the end of His parable when he tells the lawyer, “Go and do as the Samaritan did”. The lawyer was interested in a theoretical question, “Who is my neighbour?” and Christ, while answering this question with His parable, at the same time gives an answer to the more complex question of, “What does it mean to love one’s neighbour?” The answer – do as the Samaritan did, i. e. be merciful, be kind.

Today, at the beginning of Advent, it’s wonderful to hear these words of Jesus Christ about the two greatest commandments. Let’s make them our guides for the remainder of the fasting period, like in ancient times the star of Bethlehem was for the Magi. Let’s turn off our computers, telephones and televisions. Let’s log off of our social media accounts and try with all our hearts to love God, that is to pray daily in the morning and evening, before and after eating. Let’s read the Gospels or some other part of Holy Scripture daily. Let’s not miss church services without a good excuse. Let’s participate in the Mysteries of repentance and the Eucharist. Let’s greatly thank God that our church has been able to remain open. Let us also try to love our neighbour. Let’s give alms to the needy and give some attention and time to the lonely. Let’s not judge. Let’s keep quiet, talk less and especially avoid idle gossip. Let’s pray for the sick and the suffering and those who can’t attend church services. If we spend the coming days of the fast in such a manner, we will, without doubt, worthily meet the newborn Christ on the day of His birth.

priest Alexis