Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Congratulations with the feasts of the Resurrection of the Lord and of all the Russian Saints!

Today during the Divine Liturgy we heard in the Gospel reading how our Lord Jesus Christ, while walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, happened upon four pious and zealous Jews, with whom he was already acquainted. We also heard how the Lord called these men – Peter, his brother Andrew, and the sons of Zebedee, James and John – to follow Him.

This picturesque and vivid Gospel excerpt is wonderfully suited for the first Sunday of the Peter and Paul fasting period. If at the end of this fast we mark the completion of the very fruitful missionary struggles of the chief apostles Peter and Paul and their martyric deaths, today we heard about the very beginning of this apostolic vocation. We heard how the first four disciples were called by the Saviour and how they quickly and gladly left their worldly cares and promptly followed after the Lord. Of course, much happened between this calling, about which we heard today, and their glorious death as martyrs. There were not only spiritual ascents, but also moments of regression. Perhaps the main thing to note today is the zealous love of the apostles for Christ, which this time allowed them to drop everything and follow after Him, but which also in moments of doubt allowed them to repent, lift themselves up, and continue on in their spiritual struggles.

Today’s Gospel words are also especially important for us because the beginning of any fasting period is a challenge from Jesus Christ for us to once again return to Him and follow after Him. Today we are presented by a choice: to be like the Holy Apostles Peter, Andrew, John, and James and to accept the call of the Lord, that is, to readily fast with all our heart, to read Holy Scripture, to prepare for Communion (not simply by quickly confessing before the Liturgy, but by attending and listening to the All-Night Vigil, confessing on Saturday before the evening service, attentively and without hurrying reading the entire prayer rule before Communion, coming to Liturgy on time or even early, and only after such a thorough preparation receiving Communion), to give alms generously, or, to continue on as before. Let each of us be inspired by the example of the apostles to leave aside our earthly cares, at least for the time of the fast, and to joyfully follow after our Lord.

priest Alexis