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Orthodox Observer - March 20, 1997

SCOBA Sunday of Orthodoxy Encyclical

The Hierarchs of the Standing Conference
of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops
in the Americas

To all the clergy and laity
of the Holy Orthodox Church
throughout the Americas

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. (Peter 3:15)

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We begin the holy season of Great Lent with a sense of hope. We start out on this journey ready to endure the spiritual challenges that will be presented to us in firm expectation of the joy of the Resurrection. As Christians we join all those who like St. Paul have "lived by faith, not by sight" (II Cor. 5:7). We build upon our past experiences and know, by faith, that God's promise to us is real. We can always trust in His help. Our whole life reflects this hope that we have because, as St. Maximos the Confessor says: "hope brings before our eyes this help promised by faith and drives off the enemy's attacks." So we begin our spiritual trek having as our goal the spiritual blessings promised us.

However, we live in a world that has little hope. Even worse, it hopes in the wrong things. Proverbs tells us that "when a wicked person dies, their hope perishes; all they expected from their power comes to nothing" (11:7). But in spite of this millions of people pursue the path of worldly power and deceit. We are witnessing before our very eyes the destruction of the future generation. Young people, desperate in the bankruptcy of their lives, are seduced by the false promise of easy money, drugs, and power. But these never produce the hoped-for results, and "hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Prov. 13:12). Secular imagination does not have the capacity to envision a way out of this terrible cycle. It places its faith in the here and now. The virtue of patient perseverance that transfigures the soul is senseless to the person who wants immediate gratification.

As Christians we have something to offer. We have a direction to our lives. We know what the destiny of the world is. This is the gift that we bring to our society, a gift that God has given us. Our firm hope in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ — a hope that strengthens us not only during Lent, but throughout our lives — is a witness to those around us who need this hope. Our hope does not perish!

During this period of the Fast, we struggle to make our faith real and present. St. Symeon the New Theologian encourages us when he says that "the mystery of Christ our God's resurrection takes place in us at all times — if we are willing. Christ is buried in us as in a tomb. He unites Himself to our souls and rises again, and raises us with Himself." Each of us, beloved brothers and sisters, is living proof of God's love for us. We are the bearers of hope. We are missionaries of the Good News of salvation when by our words, thoughts and actions we are prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks us the reason for the hope that we have.

With Archpastoral blessings,

and prayers for a spiritual Lent
and a blessed Pascha,

[ Orthodox Observer, Vol. 62 - No. 1125, March 20, 1997, p. 6 ]