Homily

The Great Judgment

Meatfare Sunday March 5, 2000

St. Andrew Orthodox Church, Riverside - Ca.

Father Josiah Trenham, Pastor

Introduction. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen. This Sunday is called Meatfare Sunday (since it is the last day on which we eat flesh-meat until the lamb and other meats eaten at the Feast of Pascha), and is the third of the Sundays in preparation for the Great and Holy Lent. It follows upon the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee and that of the Prodigal Son, and sets before us another important theme designed to determine our orientation in Lent. This theme is that of the Great Judgment which is coming upon the world.

We are helped greatly in an appreciation of the importance of frequent meditation upon the Great Judgment by the lives of two saints that we have commemorated this week, Ss. Eudokia (3/1) and Chad (3/2).