The Sunday of Zacchaeus/Sunday of the Canaanite Woman is almost here. For relevant dates see Triodion & Pentecostarion 2021, which we published earlier today.

Hierarchs, priests, deacons, monastics, clergy wives, laymen and laywomen, and teens are invited to write a Lenten Reflection for Orthodoxy in Dialogue’s readers.

You may wish to focus on the theme of one of the Sundays preparatory to or during Great Lent, or more generally on a theme which captures something of the spirit of this season as a time for drawing closer to God and to our neighbour through the joyful ascesis of intensified prayer, fasting, liturgical worship, almsgiving, and repentance. Inspire us.

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He is not here, for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay. 

Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead.

Matthew 28:6-7

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Sunday of Zacchaeus / Sunday of the Canaanite Woman

February 14

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Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee

February 21

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Sunday of the Prodigal Son

February 28

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Sunday of the Last Judgment

(Meatfare Sunday)

March 7

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In 2018, NPR conducted an interview with a former neo-Nazi, Christian Picciolini. In the interview, Picciolini discusses how terms like “alt-right” and “white nationalist” were invented by white supremacists to sound more palatable to average Americans, and points out the prevalence of these words in the news today. He goes on to discuss how there was a specific push in the 1980s and 90s to give the movement a face-lift, including encouraging members to wear business suits, recruit college students, and join law enforcement and the military. Picciolini believes that efforts like this have been successful, and that this is how some white supremacists are able to fly under the radar and enter political office today.

It is my belief that some of these young men are joining the Orthodox Church in increasing numbers as well, and if believers are not awake to the way theology and church history can be twisted to accommodate their views, they may continue to fly under the radar, shaping the direction the Church takes in the US and beyond.

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This most recent instalment of Archbishop Paul’s Reflections appeared on January 20 on the Orthodox Family Life page of the website of the Diocese of the Midwest, Orthodox Church in America.

Two weeks ago I posted about why Jesus needed to be baptized. I then went on to celebrate Theophany Liturgy at Holy Trinity Cathedral. I had a glorious experience. The feast taught me about what community is, as the “worship of the Trinity made manifest.” I truly believe that we find true communion with one another in the waters the Lord sanctified when He entered the Jordan. The waters we prayed over that day became waters of sanctification, salvation, reconciliation, and love.

Then I went home that day only to observe the horrendous sight of our nation’s Capitol being invaded. The Congress needed to suspend their work for a short time to be kept in a place of safety. Thankfully, by evening, the Congress was able to reassemble and continue their work. I felt as if I went from heaven to hell that day.

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