This column represents the thoughts and opinions of Dr. Ron Braley. This is not the opinion of the Taylor Press.
Here, I was going to introduce you to my dog, Aragon. Instead, I’ll turn the Lent Orthodox duo into a trilogy and give you a bonus part III. You’ll meet Aragon next time. In parts I and II of Lent, Orthodox Style, I introduced you to Eastern/Greek orthodoxy and its Lent practices meant to aid Christian formation. The idea is to develop a rhythm of praying, giving, studying and fasting because these practices are of Christian importance. Lent also prepares the practitioner for Pascha, a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, today’s subject.
Pascha significance Christ died to bring us back to God (1 Peter 3:18), satisfying a debt incurred by humanity’s original rebellion, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Romans 5:12) and “But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) In return, our heavenly father raised him from the dead, paving the way for so many others to be resurrected at the end of this world, “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order, Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at his coming” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).
