Excerpts taken from the book, “Captivated by Your
Teachings”, by Rev. Anthony Salim.
In the Maronite Church, the Entrance into Lent begins with
“Cana Sunday”. The Wedding at Cana has, as its central theme, transformation.
On the one hand we see this pattern: in the Gospel, water becomes wine; in the
Liturgy, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. On the other hand
his physical body, changed in the Resurrection, the greatest miracle, a new
creation, is symbolized by the water-made-wine. This focus on change should
lead us to make the necessary changes in our own spiritual lives. We move from
an earthly wedding story to considering our life at the eternal Wedding
Banquet.
Great Lent is above all the time of the Great Fast. Fasting,
acts of penance and self-denial, as well as intense self-reflection, mark this
season. One remedy for sin that the ancient Christians saw as helpful was
fasting. Maronite Tradition has always encouraged heroic fasting, and our
ancestors excelled at it. Maronites are obligated to fast and abstain from meat
on Ash Monday (February 12, 2018) and Great Friday of the Crucifixion (March
30, 2018), and also to abstain from meat on all Fridays throughout Great Lent.
On the Fridays of Lent, the traditional Veneration of the
Holy Cross is prayed, and at some parishes, Stations of the Cross are also
prayed.
Great Lent is above all a time of purification and
reflection before the wondrous celebration of the Glorious Resurrection, a time
designed to lead us to personal and communal conversion. In view of our common
sinfulness and need of purification, this season is as relevant now as
ever.