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2 THE SHEPHERD • MARCH 2024 • SAINT SPYRIDON GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SAN DIEGO This month I really struggled with this letter to you. I usually try to integrate a thought from where I am on my spiritual walk to share a thought with you. This month my mind has been awhirl with thoughts of loved ones lost, searching for the meaning of things, and craving for the upcoming Lent so that I can refocus my faith. One of the dozens of petitions that we pray is a re- quest “for a Christian end to our life, peaceful without shame and suffering, and for a good defense before the awesome judgment seat of Christ.” What we come to realize is that when and how the end of life will come is out of our control, but the works we undertake in preparation for presenting a good defense are within our control. It is said that salvation comes through faith, work and the grace of God. Last month, the man who had been my lifelong image of faith passed. Larry was my dad’s best friend and my best friend’s dad. He was a teacher and carpenter. He came to his faith out of devo- tion to his family. One Sunday he was in the kitchen as his wife was in the other room preparing to go to church with their three kids. He overheard his young son protesting to his mom, “Why do I have to go to church, Dad doesn’t go?” Without a word, the next day Larry went and met with the priest and joined the church. The rest of his life was devoted to his faith and his family. He was a man of few words who spoke his faith through his works. At his service, the priest spoke of him, a man who had done so much work with his hands going to the “building of God, a house not made with hands.” (2 Cor- inthians 5:1) I pray for his salvation. I suppose, ironically, the Prayer Team mes- sages I read each morning have been reflec- tions on death, dying, salvation and eternal life this month. In one of the moving stories, which I encourage you to find and read for yourself; Father Stavros tells the story of go- ing home to his dad who was dying of colon cancer. His dad went to church every Sun- day, sang in the choir, and did the things “active” parishioners do. After arriving, his dad tells Father he is going to die and asks Father to “make him not afraid.” Father then, with his dad’s permission, has a conversation with him as a priest, not as his son. What ensued was a conversation, many of us may have in our mind’s eye - Question, “Do you believe in God?” Answer, “Yes, I believe in God.” Question, “What do you believe about God?” Answer, “I’m not sure?” Surprised, Father Stavros walks his dad through the Creed, “We believe . . .” When they finish, Father offers to call a priest to come hear his dad’s confession. His dad looks at him and says “You are the priest; you said you are not my son tonight. You hear the confession.” Father then takes his dad’s con- fession and when they were done, his dad says “Father get on your knees next to me, and pray for me to die. Because if I die now, I am ready.” Isn’t that the ending we all pray for, know- ing what we truly believe and being ready. I am sure the thoughts swirling in my mind are leading me somewhere and I am thank- ful to be here at the door step of Lent with all of you. It is said that repentance is the door to Lent. I have also read that in the ear- ly Church, repentance was a solemn public act through which a sinner was reintegrated into the Body of Christ. As Lent approach- es, I pray for a change of heart and that we may be reintegrated together as we make this walk together through Lent. Many Blessings, Jim Gilpin Parish Council President FROM THE PARISH COUNCIL PRESIDENT Although as a whole group, the Women on the Word are still on hiatus this year, we are managing different ways of connecting to share the Word of God with one another whether it is through a call, an email, one- to-one meeting or conversation, or even just being present with each other in Church. In fact, there is a moment in the Divine Lit- urgy before the profession of the Creed that always resonates with us when the priest says, “Let us love one another so that with one mind we may confess” and then pray- ing quietly over the Holy Gifts follows with “I love You, O Lord, my strength; the Lord is my foundation, my refuge and my deliverer.” (Psalm 18:1-2) As Robert Krantz writes in his book, Guide to the Divine Liturgy: “At this time it is customary for the kiss of peace to be exchanged.” (p.91) So whether we are seat- ed together or not at this time, we always are aware of and try to acknowledge one another with the phrase “Christ is in our midst” and the response, “He is and always will be.” We know that, physically no matter where we are, we always still are bound together in His Love and in His Continual Presence. Moving into Lent we can take some time to contemplate the reality of this invitation “Let us love one another” and the exchange “Christ is in our midst. He is and always will be.” Do we really believe that during all the events, temptations and demands of our dai- ly lives? Can we even begin to fathom what that means to be in His Continual Presence as we are working out our salvation? In one of his YouTube videos, Fr. Seraphim of Mull Monastery reminds us that “Christ has already won the battle” so if we yoke ourselves to Him, as we fight the good fight during our Lenten journey, when we open ourselves to His Presence and remember, be- lieve, and say that Christ is in our midst , He is truly with us and can help us move towards the victory that is in His grace and peace. Praying that everyone has a most blessed Lenten journey with God’s good grace. + The Women of the Word Bible Study Group WOMEN WORD OF THE 1 FR. ANDREW are still surrounded by a cloud of witness- es. The icons that adorn the walls of our Churches and hang in our homes and else- where remind us of God’s reality and cor- rectly teach us the response to that reality. The icons of Christ help to keep us focused upon our Lord and Savior. The Icons of the Theotokos and of the Saints, remind us that yes indeed, we are still surrounded by those faithful men and women who went before us and who are examples for us. My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The Sun- day of Orthodoxy celebrates the restoration of our icons back where they belong: in our homes, our Churches, our offices, etc. Through this celebration, we are reminded and encouraged about the proper role our icons play in the lives of faithful Orthodox Christians (you and me). As the icons pass by on the Sunday of Orthodoxy (Sunday March 24th), let us reverently cross ourselves and offer prayers of thanksgiving for having been given the privilege and blessing to cast our eyes upon the sacred images the icons represent. During this Great and Holy Lent Season, having been given the opportunity to look upon the icons of the Church, let us worthily give thanks unto the Lord and His cloud of witnesses , the Saints. As we ascend toward Jerusalem, may we be encouraged and strengthened in our spiritual journey, seeing in the icons those who have completed the race and received the crown of righteousness , which is ultimately eternal life, amen. +A