We have reached the final Sunday of Great Lent. And the themes of the today’s gospel, the texts of the hymns, and the commemoration of Saint Mary of Egypt all reiterate the principal lessons of Great Lent: repentance and spiritual discipline for the preparation of our Lord’s passion, death, and resurrection.
Just after Jesus foretells his passion and crucifixion, in today’s Gospel we are reminded in a dialogue between Jesus and his disciples that as those who believe, trust, in him, we are to participate in his crucifixion and live our lives as ones who crucify, put to death our self-will in order for God to act in us. As Saint Paul writes:
far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Over the next two weeks, we have some meaningful work ahead of us—work that requires a shift in how we approach life, along with a real commitment to focus and discipline. The final days of Lent are our chance to pause and reassess our journey, looking at our lives through the lens of faith. But this kind of reflection isn’t passive, it takes effort and intention. Christ teaches that the path to the kingdom of God is narrow, and it’s up to us to embrace that challenge, making conscious choices to walk that road with purpose.
The church places before us the image of Saint Mary of Egypt as a sign that whatever our past we are always given the opportunity for redemption. Our calling may not be as extreme as her life in the desert but in our own way we must discover our particular life in Christ. The saints have shown numerous paths. But their particular traits of compassion, joy in the Lord, and humility all manifest the love of Christ in the world.
As we approach the end of Great Lent let us earnestly heed the Lenten prayer of Saint Ephraim to instill in us the lesson of the Publican and the Pharisee, we heard so many weeks ago: to see our own transgressions, and not to judge our brothers and sisters. And we pray that God gives us a spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love.
