One-Day Lenten Retreat

[Cathedral FOCUS]

Web Version  |  Update preferences  |  Unsubscribe Like Tweet Forward One-Day Lenten Retreat Heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us for our One-Day Lenten Retreat held on March 16, 2013. Our biggest thanks goes to Very Rev. Fr. CJ Johnson, Rev. Fr. Aju Mathews and Rev. Fr. Laby George Panackamattom for their spiritual leadership and guidance. This year's One-Day Lenten Retreat saw several changes from previous retreats. It consisted of three stations for all age groups. Our FOCUS and youth group was blessed with a discussion led by Rev. Fr. Aju Mathews. Our topic for this year's retreat was Born Again, taken from 1 Peter 1:23: "You have been born again by means of the living word of God. His word lasts forever. You were not born again from a seed that will die. You were born from a seed that can’t die." Who is Saint Peter speaking to? Saint Peter is speaking to a recently converted Christian community who was recently given the valuable truth of Jesus. They were given something so valuable but they forget – just like us and revert to their non-Christian ways. It is difficult for us to follow our Christian teachings in the society that we live in. Our society is all about living for the day. Christianity doesn't follow that logic. Becoming born again is a continual process. We look at everyone else and comment on their faithfulness  Why don't we implement the discipline we see in others in our own lives? We are just like them! We are just like the people who forget the valuable thing we have. We are like the seed which fell on the footpath or on shallow soil instead of fertile soil (Saint Matthew 13). The people around us should gravitate to us because of our faithfulness, just like the lamp spoken about in Saint Matthew 5:14-16: "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." In order to become reborn, we must ask ourselves certain questions Do you believe in God? If yes, do you believe in Jesus and what He's done? If yes, are you His follower? Will others call you a Christian? What are you doing about your Christianity? How are you changing the lives of the people around you? When we have made steps to positively answer these questions, our lives will be changed and we will be Born Again. Edit your subscription | Unsubscribe

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St. Mary's Malankara Orthodox Syrian Cathedral 1424 Orthodox Street | Philadelphia, PA 19124 E-Mail: cathedr...@gmail.com Website: www.stmaryscathedral.net Follow us on: