Preparatory Weeks before Lent

In the Orthodox Church, before we begin Great Lent, which is the strictest fast of the year, we undergo preparation where various Gospels are read in the weeks before lent that should prompt our reflection, and place us in the right spirit before we start with this most precious and transformative undertaking. Preparatory Sundays of Great Lent include the following:

1. Sunday of Zacheus – Luke 19:1-10 

This is the first preparatory week of Lent. At this time, we remember the Gospel of Luke where Jesus was described as the one who was seeking Zacheus who was a sinner and a publican. We are reminded of the fact that all of us, if we seek God’s gaze, we will met His. Active, not passive, seeking is what we are supposed to do.

2. Publican and Pharisee – Luke 18:9-14

In the Gospel that speaks about the Publican and Pharisee we are instructed not to emulate those who bring up their virtues before God but those who condemn themselves as worthy of every punishment. Only with this humble attitude will God exalt us.

3. Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-32

Each and every one of us is a prodigal son. When we hear this Gospel in the Church on this Sunday, we should all find ourselves in the son who was lost and be encouraged by the fact that the door to repentance is always open. As such, we are all invited to repentance and come back from the far away country of our sin and ego into the embrace of the selfless Father.

4. The Last Judgement – Matthew 25:31–46

The Gospel of this week, that is also known as “Meatfare week”, bears the message that us human beings will be judged by God. Free will is given to us; and based on that free will and the usage of it we will be saved or condemned. The main criterion is our behavior towards those around us.

5. Forgiveness Sunday – Matthew 6:14-21

On this Sunday, the Sunday before Great Lent, we are instructed to ask each other for forgiveness because if we do not forgive each other our transgressions, God will not forgive us our transgressions. We ask forgiveness by saying: “Please forgive me” and our brothers and sisters answer by saying: “God forgives and I forgive”. Please note that the sacrifice of Lent and fasting cannot be offered to God if we have hidden enmity towards our brothers and sisters in Christ, family, friends. Having forgiven one another, with the fear of God, we will start fasting.

PLEASE NOTE: Great Lent, although it is a sacred time of the year, it is still filled with temptations. Take extra care and caution! We will all be tested and the evil one will try to remove us mentally and physically from fasting and its spirit. Hold on to your prayer rule and whenever you have time repeat the Jesus prayer. We have to enter the spirit of Lent before we start fasting. If we start our preparation for Lent together with Lent itself, we will waste precious time and miss a lot of Lent. Work on your salvation with fear and trembling!!!