Daily Journey Through the Great Fast With the Early ChurchSample

Salvation in the Orthodox Church is available only through the precious blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Passover lamb was a symbol of our Lord Jesus Christ, “...For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” [1 Corinthians 5:7]. Through the blood of the lamb, the children of Israel were saved from the fatal plague, “For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you” [Exodus 12:23].

In this example of the Passover lamb and the doors stricken with blood, we notice a very significant symbolism that highlights the role of repentance in salvation. The Passover lamb must be eaten with unleavened bread (Exodus 12:8) and no leaven would be kept in all the quarters for seven days (Exodus 13:6-7); the Lord emphasized strongly the removal of leaven from the houses and set a severe punishment of cutting off anyone who would dare to eat leavened bread (Exodus 12:15, 18, 20)

Leaven is a symbol of evil and sin, while unleavened bread is a symbol of righteousness and purity. St. Paul said, “Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” [1 Corinthians 5:7-8].

The removal of leaven (sin) was a symbol of repentance and the seven days represent the whole life because the number “7” is a symbol of perfection, thus another confirmation that repentance is to be a daily work in the life of the believer. Therefore, though a person may escape the death of the plague through the blood of the lamb, this person will be cut off the congregation if they eat leaven, “...unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” [Luke 13:3]. Also, the Passover lamb was to be eaten with bitter herbs (Exodus 12:8) that represent the role of regret and sorrow associated with repentance, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation” [2 Corinthians 7:10]. So even though the Passover lamb reminded the Israelites with the joy of salvation, it had to be eaten with bitter herbs and indeed we are reminded that “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” [Matthew 5:4].

“The old leaven is not just fornication but sin of every kind, which must be rooted out if the lump is to be pure.” [St. John Chrysostom, the 4th century Archbishop of Constantinople and a “doctor of the Church”]God illustrates for us in the Parable of the Prodigal Son that He loves everyone - those that love Him and even, yes, those that don’t love Him and want absolutely nothing to do with Him. Actually, the Parable should be called the Parable of the Prodigal Sons, because the younger son who squandered his father’s inheritance, repented and returned; however, the older son, was equally lost. The younger son, asking for the inheritance of his father, was to tell the father, “I want nothing to do with you and I wish you were dead” - how else does anyone get an inheritance except for when someone dies? In some parts of the world, that kind of disrespect would get you a strong slap across the face or worse, but not with God - the father respects the wishes of his younger son. The older son held to the letter of the law and, like the Pharisees who would have memorized more than 300 prophecies concerning the Messiah, had all “knowledge” about the father but knew no love for him - never had a real relationship with him, never cared for his father and only did what he did so he would be in his good favor, but not because he actually loved his father.

How could the younger son, who had no love and no real knowledge of the father repent and be accepted back? Because his repentance was simple...he “came to himself” [Luke 15:17], simple as that...no long complicated formula, he came back to his senses, meaning he was 100% wholly, simply and brutally honest with himself first and his father afterwards. However, the older son we are left with a cliffhanger...we never find out if he enters the party or stays outside when his father invites him into the party, perhaps for that is we can reflect ourselves on to the older son and say, “what would I do in this situation?”

The younger son followed his desires and, as a result, made many unwise choices...choices that tried to numb the pain rather than to seek his father’s grace, healing and restoration but when he repented, he was in his father’s grace again, healed of the burden of his sins, and restored again, not as a servant but again as a son! “for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” [Luke 15:24] Where sin is death and alienation, repentance is the renewal of life and to be found once again.

The father, like God, initiates His love for each of His sons...he stands outside waiting for the younger son to come home and when his older son doesn’t want to come into the party he goes out to bring him in. God’s love isn’t because of the repentance, it’s the opposite. He loves us and therefore, we repent.

Like the younger son, the kingdom of Judah were "stubborn children", they rebelled against God and were "unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord." As the younger son, the kingdom of Judah wanted nothing with God and He gives them what they want, like the father does with the younger son. When the younger son, like the kingdom of Judah, sought safety elsewhere, God brought discipline. How ironic it was for them to think that they could outrun and distance themselves from God, as we are reminded in Psalm 139:7-8, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.”

For us, He is still here with us, no matter how far we believe we have run away from Him. If we find refuge in our wealth, family, health, or anything other than God, or find ourselves suffering God's discipline, this is the call to return back to Him...do not delay in your repentance. He is waiting for you with open arms to come back to Him. Do not let the devil try to steal from you this divine zeal of repentance, get up now and repent, for the joy you will have will be reflected in heaven - “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” [Luke 15:10].

“Let your prayer be completely simple. For both the publican and the prodigal son were reconciled to God by a single phrase.” [St. John Climacus, a 7th century monk and author of “Ladder of Divine Ascent”]