In the middle of the 40 days of Great Lent we come to the Sunday of the Cross. The Cross is the central theme of Great Lent so its commemoration is celebrated in the middle of the Feast. Now we are in a different Liturgical Season - the Pascha season. The Pascha season lasts from the Resurrection up to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The central theme is Christ who is victorious in His resurrection and who is sending the Holy Spirit.

The Gospel reading from John 7 describes Jesus' teaching ministry in the Temple. In the Troparion we sing, "In the middle of the Feast, O Savior, fill my thirsting soul with the waters of godliness, as Thou didst cry to all: 'If anyone thirst, let him come to Me and drink'. O Christ God, Fountain of our life, glory be to Thee!" Christ's teaching is like water for our thirsty souls. Water features prominently in the Gospel readings of the Pascha Season. Last week we heard about the Paralytic who could not get anyone to lower him into the pool.

Next Sunday we will read about the woman at the well. In each story water is a source of life and is used to point people to Jesus. As part of the water theme, we will have a small blessing of water tomorrow morning after the Liturgy.

From Fr. Daniel's Weekly Email