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The Great LentThe Great Lent is considered to be the most blessed and profound spiritual period in the Coptic Calendar. It is fasted for a total of 55 days, consisting of the Week of Preparation, the Holy Forty Days, Lazarus Saturday, and the Holy Pascha Week.In the past, the holy fathers began fasting the Holy Lent on the day following the Feast of the Epiphany (12 Tobe), as revealed to them by the Gospel, “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil” (Lk. 4:1,2).
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The Lent is a time during which we remember our sinful condition and our need for a Savior to die for our sins and rise to offer us new life. It is a time of renewed devotion. It is also a time of repentance, a real renewal of our minds, hearts and deeds in conformity with Christ and his teachings. It is the time, most of all, of our return to the great commandments of loving God and our neighbors.
Sixth Sunday of Lent (The Sunday of the Man Born Blind)On the last Sunday before Palm Sunday, we talk about the man who was born blind. This story is quite important and is found in John 9. This story teaches us not to judge people because of their appearances and disabilities. The blind man was left and not paid attention to as people thought he was blind as one of his parents committed a sin. This is unfair as he was treated differently and was not helped. He was healed when jess spat on the the ground, and with this he told the blind man to put the mud on his eyes and wash it in the pool of Siloam. This must mean that the blind man had faith in Jesus, as this pool was far away, and the man had never seen Jesus before. The fact that the man saw again emphasised the point that Jesus is the `light of the world`. The blind man had great faith in Jesus, as he had never seen him, and therefore didn`t he could have easily thought he was being tricked. We should learn from this lesson to always have faith in Jesus, and everything in the world, even some bad things, have a meaning and plan in Gods books.
Sermons and Hymens about the Great Lent
Great Lent Sermon
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St. Antonious Coptic Orthodox Church
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