Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 1:1-2

 

 

For the past month, we’ve been reflecting on the Sermon on the Mount. Beginning today, coinciding with the beginning of Great Lent, we will take a break from this series and focus our Lenten study on the book of Psalms.  In our parish of St. John, the Baptist in Tampa, where I serve, we are utilizing a Lenten journal that includes a Psalm verse to meditate on each day.  We will be reflecting on these verses during Great Lent.  A copy of the journal is linked below to this Prayer Team Message.  If you’d like to utilize the journal, please feel free to print it out and use it during Great Lent.

 

Today is the first day of Great Lent, known as Clean Monday or “Kathara Deftera” in Greek.  It is the beginning of a journey.  On the liturgical calendar, the journey will lead us through services and events. Each Sunday of Great Lent has a specific theme. Pre-Sanctified Liturgy, offered in our parishes on Wednesdays and Fridays, offers us an opportunity to receive Holy Communion often, strengthening us for the journey.  There is an elaborate set of services and rituals for Holy Week, culminating in the Crucifixion on Good Friday, and the Resurrection on Pascha.  These days will pass, regardless of how we choose to mark them.  For some, there will be token appearances on some of the big days.  Others will immerse themselves more fully.

 

The purpose of these services is not just to mark time.  It is to help us remember the work of salvation accomplished by Jesus Christ nearly two thousand years ago.  However, it is more than that.  Because over time, we forget many things.  The feeling of Pascha for many is lost as quickly as the day after, the journey complete, and on to the next journey.  The goal of Great Lent is not simply to make a journey that ends, but to Awake the Soul and strengthen it, so that the spiritual renewal that is possible during Great Lent continues long after the Lenten journey is over.  The hope this Lent is for a spiritual awakening in each of us, something that doesn’t necessarily need to be profound, but small and sustained.

 

We begin with Psalm 1:1-2, which identifies two distinct paths, one that leads to spiritual malaise and the other which leads to spiritual awakening. There is the counsel of the wicked, the way of sinners and the seat of scoffers.  And there is delight in the law of the Lord and the choice to meditate on it day and night.  There is a way of noise and a way of stillness.  Now, you might be thinking, the way of noise is the way of life. There is no escaping sound, or traffic, or stress, or busyness.  We can’t just sit quietly day and night.  So, we dismiss this idea of two ways as unrealistic.  Here is why it isn’t.

 

The state of our bodies is one of nearly perpetual motion.  We should quiet our bodies with adequate sleep, and rest days (I’m perpetually guilty of not doing these, and that is an area for self-improvement. During Great Lent, we should think of lifestyle changes that would augment our spiritual and physical health.) but life moves quickly and we get caught up in the quick movements.  The kind of stillness that is realistic, but we have to strive for it, is spiritual stillness.  We can be physically active, but also spiritually still.  We can run around physically but retain a spiritual calmness.  How is that possible? It is possible only if we have some physical stillness while we meditate on spiritual things.  We’re not talking about physical stillness in front of our televisions or scrolling on our devices.  We are talking about being physically still, meditating on the things of the Lord. This physical stillness, experienced in prayer, Scripture reading, and worship, helps create spiritual stillness.  And when we leave the physical stillness and return to the rapid pace of life, some spiritual stillness remains.  And the result of that spiritual stillness is the wisdom, discernment and strength (and frankly, interest) in the counsel of the wicked, the way of sinners and the seat of scoffers. If we haven’t meditated on the Lord, if we haven’t been physically still in prayer, it is much easier to see the counsel of the wicked, the way of sinners and the seat of scoffers as attractive.

 

If one’s first delight is in the things of the Lord, we will be able to navigate around the ways of the world more successfully. Great Lent provides beautiful opportunities to slow down—more opportunities to worship, and these opportunities are services where the senses are quiet; the tradition of fasting, where we take the focus off of food and put it on internal spiritual discipline.  The journey of life is stressful, and every day we are shown the way of the world, each time we step out of our homes, or even in them, as we turn on our phones.  Life is more focused and less chaotic when we bring the way of the Lord into our way of life.  Each day we awake our bodies to face the world with our own challenges and personal flaws.  Each day, we should strive to Awaken our souls so that we take the perfect God with us into the imperfect world. Great Lent is not just a journey of events, but an opportunity to awaken our souls and align them more with the path of God.  Psalm 108:1 offers a beautiful backdrop to our Lenten journey: My heard is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! Awake, my Soul! This Psalm verse might accurately describe the state of your soul and relationship with God, and if it does, keep up the great work. And if it doesn’t, spend this Lent working on making it a statement that describes your life.  This state of being is on the table for everyone. It begins with spiritual stillness, transferred over into the hurried journey of life.  Have a blessed Lent! Kali Sarakosti!

 

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, not stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.  In all that he does, he prospers.  The wicked are not so, but are like chaff which the wind drives away.  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.  Psalm 1

 

Reflection question: Where do I sense God inviting me to slow down and listen more deeply?

 

+Fr. Stavros

 

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