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 The Lent and Healing the blind man |
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The Lent period is the third cycle in the Liturgical year. This cycle is known as “the cycle of forgiveness” and it consists of eight Sundays the same as all other cycles. During six consecutive Sundays the church discusses Jesus’ miracles, beginning with the wedding feast in Cana and ending with the healing of the blind man. The seventh Sunday is Palm Sunday and the eighth is Easter. Melodies of this cycle are as usual eight: the wedding feast in Cana is Qadmoyo (the first) and it continues on until the Palm Sunday which is Shbi’oyo (the seventh). Easter’s melody is Qadmoyo (the first) and not Tminoyo (the eighth) because of its nature. It was decided that the melodies of bigger holidays have to be Qadmoyo (the first), which are joyful type of tunes.
During this cycle we will discuss the content and the theme of each Sunday which are arranged as follow:
The wedding feast in Cana
The healing of the Lepard
Healing the paralyzed man
Healing the Canaanite's daughter
The parable of the Good Samaritan
Healing the blind man
Palm Sunday
Easter
The first Saturday of Lent is designated for the memory of St. Ephraim. The twenty-fourth day of Lent, which is always Wednesday, (the middle of Lent) is designated for the memory of King Abgar IX (Abgar Oukomo) who converted to Christianity at Edessa in the second century A.D.
In this Period, it is noteworthy to list three special events:
1- During the masses of this period and especially before giving the sign of peace, the choir sings a special hymn called “Ho Edono Lasloutho” (it is time to pray). This hymn calls the believers to forgive each other before exchanging the sign of peace in the mass. It is sung during the masses of the six Sundays of this cycle, before saying the last sentence of “Abo Ahid” (creed) which is “Stawmen Qalous Qouryé Layson” (Let us stay in obedience and ask for merci). You may mention that priest doesn’t go up to the higher step of the altar until the verse of the hymn which says “It is the moment where priest go up to the higher stair to present offers for our forgiveness”. This hymn has been assigned specially to this period to emphasize the element of forgiveness.
2- A special ceremony takes place on Sunday is a collection of wonderful texts of forgiveness written by St. Jacob and St. Ephraim. This ceremony is repeated during these six Sundays.
3- The daily afternoon prayers are substituted by the forgiveness prayers of St. Ephraim.
This will be a good period to recount ones sins and try to forgive during this period of forgiveness.
Healing the blind man
As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging; and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." And he cried, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me receive my sight." And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
Luke 18:35-43
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