Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Congratulations with the feast of the Resurrection of the Lord!

Today’s Epistle reading, just like last week’s, is specially selected to prepare us to properly spend the coming days of Great Lent. We heard the words of the Apostle Paul about the need to always act in such a way as not to tempt, or scandalize, our brothers and sisters in Christ.

There we some of the faithful in Corinth, who, knowing that in regards to food there are no prohibitions, and that idols are nothing, that they have no power over us, were of the opinion that it is permissible to eat meat that was brought as a sacrifice to idols. They even felt free to be present at pagan festivals and to eat in pagan temples. Although they saw nothing wrong in this, others of the faithful were very much scandalized. Therefore Paul wrote strictly that it is important that we take care not to scandalize others. When we tempt others with our actions, we sin not only against them, but also against God. For each believer is a member of Christ’s body, and, as we heard last week, are bought at a price, i. e. by our Saviour’s blood. Paul even says: “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth.”

Of course, today none of us eat the sacrifices of idols. We don’t scandalize one another in such a manner, but that doesn’t mean that there is no lesson for us today. It happens that certain of our other actions may lead people into confusion. Many of us have parents, husbands or wives, children or other relatives that are not believers or may not be churched. For these people, Lent and all those rules that we try to follow can lead them to be scandalized. Lent, and the way we practice it, can push them away from Christ and His Church. This is a tragedy, because the whole point of Lent is to bring people closer to God. Therefore, let’s try to keep all the lenten rules as best we can without tempting or scandalizing those around us.

priest. Alexis

P.S. Last week war broke out between Russia and Ukraine. For us believers, members of our parish, where together both Russians and Ukrainians pray and commune of Christ’s Body and Blood, this is a woeful and personal tragedy.

Many members of our parish have parents or other relatives in Ukraine who are right now in very real danger. May our Lord God protect them. Let each of us do what we can to support those parishioners who are feeling anxiety and fear for their loved ones. Let’s pray that the war ends, that peace reigns, that the Lord give rest in the Heavenly Kingdom to those who have been killed, that He support the refugees, the wounded, and all those who find themselves in difficult straits, and that people can return to calmly living their lives.