Malankara World Journal - Christian Spirituality from an Orthodox Perspective
Malankara World Journal
Kothne Sunday, Great Lent Begins
Volume 6 No. 330 February 5, 2016
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Foreword: Holy Lent - The Basics

Today we are reminded that our lives come from God. Our very existence comes from God. Every breath we take is a reminder of our dependency upon God; every beat of our heart is a reminder that God is the Lord. As we begin our Lenten journey, let us take a few minutes to reflect on the reality that without God we are nothing and to give thanks that God loved us into being. ...

I. This Sunday in Church - 1st Sunday of Great Lent (Pethrutha Sunday)

2. Bible Readings for This Sunday (February 7)

http://www.MalankaraWorld.com/Library/Lectionary/ Lec_1st_sunday_of_great-Lent.htm

3. Sermons for This Sunday (February 7)

http://www.MalankaraWorld.com/Library/Sermons/Sermon-of-the-week_1st-sunday-of-lent.htm

4. From Malankara World Journal Archives

Malankara World Journals with the Theme: Great Lent Week 1

Volume 5 No 264: February 13 2015
Volume 4 No 199: February 27, 2014
Volume 3 No 124: Feb 7 2013
Volume 2 No 56: February 18 2012

II. Lectionary Reflections on 1st Sunday of Great Lent

5. Lectionary Feature: Wedding at Cana - A Reflection

This week we're at a wedding. We're being shown another dimension of our relationship with God. If we're sons and daughters of God, it's because we've married into the family.

Have you ever wondered why the Bible begins and ends with a wedding - Adam and Eve's in the garden and the marriage supper of the Lamb (compare Genesis 2:23-24 and Revelation 19:9; 21:9; 22:17)? ...

6. Turning Water to Wine: God's Excess and Extravagance

John recorded the "many miraculous signs" of Jesus in order to encourage faith in those who heard about them, even if they didn't witness them firsthand: "These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." And that's what happened at Cana; John writes that the disciples "put their faith in him." ...

7. Reflections on Great Lent and Kothne Sunday by Rev. Fr. Jose Daniel Paitel

Great Lent officially begins on the evening of Pethrutha Sunday. The rules for fasting and prayer has to be followed from Sunday night onwards. Fr. Jose Daniel talks about how to conduct the fasting, and also reflects on the Wedding at Cana. (In Malayalam) ...

III. Great Lent - Week 1 - Featured Articles

8. Malankara World Great Lent Supplement

Malankara World Great Lent Supplement http://www.Malankaraworld.com/Library/Lent/Default.htm

9. Meditations and Reflections For Week 1 of Great Lent

Week 1 of Great Lent
http://www.Malankaraworld.com/Library/Lent/Lent_week1.htm

Preparing for Great Lent

10. We Are Sinners

All of us have sinned-if we were without sin, Jesus' sacrifice would not have been necessary to assure us a relationship with God. This week, take time to identify the temptations and sins that you struggle with. Are there unconfessed sins in your life that you need to bring before Jesus? ...

11. Conversion Through Prayer, Fasting and Alms-giving

Lenten conversion is not a superficial renewal like cleaning an old painting or varnishing an antique chair. These are renovations but are not conversions! What the Lord wants is not just the change of bad habits and worldly vices; He wants a clean soul and no half-measures will do. And for that, we are given a forty-day discipline to train us to cleanse the insides of our souls and make them ready for the Lord. ...

12. 'Rend Your Hearts'

The Church realized that all Christians were in need of repentance and forgiveness, not just those whose sin might stand out more than another. So, as time progressed, every Christian would come forward to have this ancient symbol pressed into their foreheads. ...

13. Reflection - How To Fast

Fast from judging others;
Feast on Christ dwelling in them. ...

IV. General Weekly Features

14. Health: Obesity is Now a Problem for Unborn Babies

Obesity isn't just an American problem; in Britain, doctors have begun administering the diabetes drug Metformin to the unborn babies of morbidly obese mothers-to-be to reduce the fetuses' weight. ...

15. Recipe: Baked Apples with Raisins

16. Family Special: Parenting Tips That Will Immediately Impact Your Family

At some point in our parenting, we've all reached the breaking point these parents were rapidly approaching. They were looking for help right now. I've only found one book with parenting tips that apply to any child at any age at any time: The Bible. ...

17. Starting-up India!

2016 couldn't have begun better for India's start-up ecosystem with Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing a whole host of tax sops and incentives to further encourage start-ups bloom in this glorious land of opportunities which is home to probably the third-largest number of start-ups globally – India. ...

18. About Malankara World

Malankara World Journal is published by MalankaraWorld.com http://www.MalankaraWorld.com/
Copyright © 2011-2019 Malankara World. All Rights Reserved.