This Sunday we officially begin a new liturgical cycle called the Triodion (Τριώδιον) – which literally means “three odes” sung at Matins, the de-facto name of this cycle and journey to Pascha. Although Great Lent starts on March 3rd, we are given the four preceding Sundays as a kind of orientation, preparing us the fast itself.
Through scripture, and hymns and writings, we are given examples of repentance, restoration, hope and love (the publican, the prodigal son’s Father, those who serve the Lord, and those who forgive); and examples of pride, rejection, greed and indifference (the pharisee, the prodigal son’s poverty, those who don’t serve the Lord, and hypocrites empty reward); so that we might recognise what is of God and His love for us; and what is of our own brokenness and sin.
The hope is that in recognising what is of God – and what is not, we might fully understand and know what it is that the Lord is offering us; and make the informed decision of what it is that we will strive to do, and what examples we will try to emulate, throughout those 40 days of the fast.
For the Lord has “set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live, that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days” (Det. 30:18-20)
Truly we are asked not to make just “an” informed decision – which could be applied to knowing what kind of soap to buy – but rather “the“ informed decision, which definitively cuts to the heart of what it is to be human. By God’s grace and love, may the eyes of our hearts be open, to make the informed decision, and follow Him and live. Not just today, or through Great Lent, but in every moment of our lives.