Setting more time for spiritual reading
Lent is a time for setting aside more time for prayer, spiritual
reading, and to renew our interest in what truly matters in life:
our relationship with God, with our family and others, and with
the state of our soul. For a better grasp of the faith, We can
read about Christianity from contexts we have little knowledge
of. One of these contexts is the spiritual wisdom that can be
obtained by reading on the treasury of Eastern Christian
spirituality and teaching.
Eastern Christianity
Before Christianity was divided into East and West in 1054 A.D.,
both the Eastern and Western churches shared a core theology,
spirituality, and traditions. After the schism of 1054 A.D.,
the West was organized under the bishop of Rome (the Pope, as
successor of the apostle Peter), while the East was organized
on a more collegial structure - with Eastern Christian bishops
or patriarchs, as successors of all the apostles. These
patriarchs are in principle equal with one another. Not all
of Eastern Christianity was totally separated from the West.
There are also patriarchs in communion with the Holy See. It
is from them that we can also learn the wisdom of Christianity
from their context. And one of their classic writings is the
Philokalia.
Spiritual teachers in the Philokalia
The spiritual authorities cited in the Philokalia are major
teachers of Eastern Christian spirituality (some of whom are
recognized as saints in our Western Catholic tradition): St.
Anthony of Egypt (hermit); Evagrius (deacon and monk); Mark the
Ascetic; St. Maximus the Confessor (Greek Father of the Church),
St. John Damascene (Greek Father and Doctor of the Church),
Symeon the New Theologian, Gregory of Sinai, Gregory Palamas,
and more. These Eastern spiritual masters teach a lot about
asceticism, poverty, humility, constant prayer, solitude and
stillness, repetitive reading of scripture, and remembrance of
death, to name a few.
Using the search engines to learn more
For our Lenten journey, we can use the search engines on the
Web to learn more on the lives of these Eastern ascetics and
monks (including St. Theophan the Recluse, St. Nilos of Soza,
St. Isaac the Syrian, and St. Seraphim of Sarov). We can also
search for excerpts of their spiritual writings and find two
or three lines of wisdom which we can apply in our observance
of Lent. These and the fully developed gospel reflections of
noted theologians featured in Zenit.org can remind us of the
transitory reality of our life and that of the world's. All
point to us an eternal destiny which God wills for all of His
children - all those who follow His Son Jesus as He is
proclaimed by the Church.
Some reflections
As we enter more deeply into Lent and soon remember the Passion
of the Lord in Holy Week (March 28-April 3, 2010), let us not
forget that death is not the end for us. Jesus taught us that
it is the beginning to a new life in Him. By rising from the
dead, Jesus conquered death and taught us that if we have faith
in Him and His Word, we too shall share in the victory He has
accomplished for all humanity. But before we share in His Easter
victory, we need to go through the journey of Lent and share in
His suffering, passion and death.
Simple three-paragraphed gospel reflections
- 1st Sunday of Lent (C)
"Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days,
where He was tempted by the devil." - 2nd Sunday of Lent (C)
"This My Son, My Chosen One. Listen to Him." - 3rd Sunday of Lent (C)
"Perhaps it will bear fruit. If not, it shall be cut down." - 4th Sunday of Lent (C)
"Father, I have sinned against God and against you." - 5th Sunday of Lent (C)
"But from now on, avoid this sin."
If you want to continue to follow these gospel reflections, you
may visit this page.
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