PASCHA HIGH 2019

Pascha has passed and although we are still in the Paschal Season, we are quickly approaching the time when the Risen Lord departs from us and ascends into heaven. This year the feast of The Ascension is celebrated on June 6th, a few days after Memorial Day on May 27th. So in honor of those who served in the military, and in honor of this Paschal Season that will end shortly, permit me to use some military analogies as I share some thoughts with you.

Basic training is not an easy time, nor is it intended to be. Every class, every Great Lent, has those individuals who start but don’t finish. The reasons can be varied, but a frequent one, both in the military and in the spiritual life, is the failure to count the cost. The Spiritual life and the military are demanding, and only those who have counted the cost will make it.

The Christian life is no easy road either. Christ didn’t mince words: Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me (Matthew 10:38). Jesus’ reference to take up your cross simply means that the Orthodox Christian life includes hardship in following God’s law and will. Christ not only carried His cross....He died on it.

If you made a decision during Great Lent to carry your cross and follow Christ as a faithful Orthodox Christian, I congratu- late you! I know, and you know, that it wasn’t and won’t be easy. We all didn’t struggle just for some 40 days. We entered the battle with the intention of making a life changing way of life. But be sure of this! The decision to become a more faithful Christian is the most important choice any per- son can ever make.

It is common knowledge that hardship is a part of life and part of military life. In fact, effective preparation for combat requires training that closely approximates the conditions of real conflict. Cheap substitutes for tough spiritual or military training just don’t work.

St. Paul, an old veteran of conflict, tells his young “soldier” Timothy that the Christian life is not for patsies: Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:3). It requires guts and determina- tion to endure the hardships that are certain to come.

St. Paul had every right to make this challenge due to the incredible suffering he had experienced for the cause of Christ. He had endured shipwrecks, lashings with whips, beatings with rods, imprisonment, and even stoning. St. Paul’s body bore the marks of his service for Christ.

We need to become good soldiers for Christ not just during Great Lent but throughout the year. Are we will- ing to endure the hardships that are part of the Orthodox Christian life? This doesn’t mean we go looking for hardships; however when they come into our life as we try to serve God, we don’t run from them. We push on! Christ endured the spittings, the scourgings, the beatings, the cross and death for us...are we willing to carry our cross for Him throughout the year?

+Rev Fr Christopher P Foustoukos

Presiding Priest