The Holy Martyr Charalampius (193-211)
Read
1 John 2:18-3:10; Mark 11:1-11
I ’m sure some of you are wondering: why are we reading the Gospel about Our Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem today? Palm Sunday isn’t for another eight weeks, so why are we hearing this Gospel before Lent has even begun?
While our pre-Lenten Sunday readings will continue to remind us of our need for repentance and conversion, the weekday readings will point us to the destination at the end of our Lenten Journey: Great & Holy Week. It is during Great and Holy Week that we will recount the passion, suffering, and death of Jesus Christ.
Before we turn our attention to the self-emptying of Christ on the cross for our sake and the sake of all of mankind, we must look at ourselves and our need for repentance. Through our continual repentance during the Great Fast, we can not only celebrate but also fully participate in the Resurrection of Christ for the Resurrection is not only the culmination of our Lenten preparation but also our desired end.