Dear in Christ Brothers and Sisters,

Congratulations with the feast of the Resurrection of the Lord! Usually on this day we mark the memory of Mary of Egypt, but this year, because of tomorrow’s feast, we are celebrating the forefeast of the Annunciation of the Most-Holy Mother of God.

In the Gospel excerpt that was read today, we heard how our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ foretold, in the most direct words, His death on the Cross in Jerusalem. The Apostles did not seem to pay any attention to these frightening words. They were concerned with other problems, such as what will happen when the Lord assumes control of the Jewish capital, drives out the occupying Romans, and sets up a Messianic earthly kingdom in Judea. The sons of Zebedee, John and James, dreamed about becoming the chief helpers and counsellors of Christ in this new world order. They even gathered enough courage to ask ahead of time for these most coveted ‘positions’ in the future government. All of the apostles, not only the sons of Zebedee, believed in this fantasy with such faith that the words of their Teacher seemed to enter into one ear and fly out the other.

In answer to the dreams of His disciples and friends, Christ reminds them that His true follower must think not so much about who will be first, but about how to better serve one’s neighbour. As an example of such service He offers Himself, saying: “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

Today’s Gospel reading was wonderfully selected for today, the last Sunday of Great Lent, by those who put together our liturgical rubrics. Probably all of us could agree that we are in some ways similar to the disciples of Christ, and that our actions, in certain ways, are like the actions of the apostles from the Gospel reading. We, like them, sometimes dream about earthly happiness, become jealous, quarrel, obsess over trivial matters, while ignoring that which is most important. In these pre-Paschal days, perhaps some people are preoccupied with baking kulichy, preparing other Paschal victuals, or with cleaning, and forget to focus on that which is most important. In this coming week, the final week of Great Lent, as well as during Holy Week, let each of us remember the words of today’s Gospel excerpt. Let us not consider our earthly matters as most important, but instead, let’s try to open our hearts to the words of our Saviour Jesus Christ through prayer, the reading of Holy Scripture, communing of the Holy Mysteries, attending church services, and serving our neighbour.

priest Alexis