March 2011 - Blessed Lent!
"Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breast-plate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints." (Ephesians 6:14-18)
Dear Friends,
From the beginning of the world there have been wars. There have been earthquakes, floods, famine, drought. I as a priest do not understand these things. My heart cries out for a world that is filled with compassion, love and mercy. This is the heart of God. It is a common practice to blame God in this world for the bad things that go on, but it has been promised that there will be a new heaven and a new earth. The path on which our world is going seems to be nothing but a negative path of endless woe, but our Lord said that he who endures this world will be saved. I promise you I want to be saved, I don’t want to give in to the negative spirit of this age. My hope is in Christ who shall sustain all things. There is no doubt that tough times bring Christians closer together. Maybe, this is the time where we Christians can band together and stand up with courage knowing that no device aimed at Christians will endure.
Here is what one of our prisoners wrote:
"Father David, next month will be the fourth anniversary of my Chrismation! I am reminded each year at the onset of Lent about the three legged stool. . .prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The liturgical year, for me, is a pullback from the nihilism of each day." (Louis in Texas)
Right before we read the Gospel at Divine Liturgy we all sing "Hallelujah" . These are great words that greeted the baby Jesus and the power of these words will never change. May God be with you as you follow the journey of Christ’s suffering as you journey this Lenten season.
May the beauty of heaven consume you,
Fr. David Ogan
Antiochian Christian Archdiocese of North America





