Maybe it is referred to as great lent because it is greater than the forty day fast period preceding Christmas, or the fourteen days of August. Maybe it is because it comes at a time when seasonal fruits and vegetables are not at their peak, and we, therefore, must truly compensate to adhere to the rules of fasting. Maybe because there are so many liturgical reminders and additional one-time services which seem to dwarf the services of the rest of the year by comparison. Maybe it is because of the time period itself in which we emerge from the cold, harsh, lifeless, dark winter, and enter into a restoration of plants, flowers, sunshine, and warmth. Whatever personal perception we may maintain, great lent is a time of change and conviction.

This, of course, is no great revelation. Anyone who has walked in the way of Orthodox Christianity knows that lent is a time to change or trade in our sinful existence in order to find a loving, personal relationship with God, Himself. Unfortunately, for too many of us, lent is has no significance whatsoever. We say, "No big deal. It is just like any other day." It is therefore relegated to a number or symbol on a page that simply shows a passage of time. However, lent and the fast is not like any old day. It is a reminder of what has come, what will be, and what might be.

Christ Jesus was crucified for our salvation. If one believes in Jesus, there is no explanation which can evoke any other response. It is what has happened, and it affects all of us. The guaranteed gift we receive as a result of His death and Resurrection, is the promise of eternal life. Christ states clearly, ... he who believes has eternal life (John 6:47). His crucifixion was real. His resurrection was real. His life was real, and our faithfulness proclaims the events of the past which are ever present. We are not called then to only re-live the events of His passion, death, and resurrection. We are summoned to be with Him, to become on-site witnesses, and to be present not only at the EVENT, but at the prelude. It is like a play written by one of the great playwrites which keeps us on the edge of our seat, even though we know the outcome. Our great lent challenges us to endure the entire ministry of Christ as He brings His apostles, disciples and us from one venue to the next, whether it be trudging through the mountains, crossing the desert, visiting cities and villages, or teaching in the temple. Unwritten is the premise to replace our banal desires with the rewards of forgiveness, truth, peace, and love. This is a sacrifice for us, since we have become so accustomed to tomfoolery, or have become absorbed into our own world and rewards.

Who among us is really willing to put aside personal desire and accomplishment to follow the way of Christ? Who really wants to sacrifice and abstain from worldly influences to hear His Word? Who really wants to bask in His Light? Why we are all ever consumed with our own fortunes, or proclaimed misfortunes. Following Christ, fasting, attending services, or even receiving Holy Communion, may not be a waste to us, but they certainly are a time consuming inconvenience. Yet that is exactly what great lent is all about. Change is certainly a growth we are called to experience, but it is not all we are asked to discover. We are asked to walk with Christ and experience His Wisdom. What better way to find ourselves? Imagine reaching out and not only touching the fringe of His garments, as did the infirm woman in the gospel according to Saint Mark, but embracing Him. Wonder how rewarding it would be to not only read His Words, but hear them first hand. So deep are we in our thoughts, that we drown out the Word of God and replace it with noise, activities, and mundane actions.