Great Lent: A Time to Remain Faithful to God and His Word

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
St. Matthew 4:3-4

The verses from St. Matthew 4 describe a pivotal moment in Jesus’ life known as the “wilderness testing,” when He was directly tempted by the devil before beginning His public ministry. This testing came at a moment of profound physical weakness, after Jesus had fasted for forty days and was famished. Yet even in great need, Jesus did not make the satisfaction of bodily hunger His ultimate concern. Using His divine power for personal well-being did not take precedence over complete obedience to God’s will. Faithfulness to God and to His Word remained His highest priority. For this reason, Jesus answered the devil by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3: “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”


Jesus’ response to this temptation reveals the primary aim of the Christian life: steadfast faithfulness to God and to His Word. This aim should likewise guide us as we enter the sacred season of Great Lent (Fifty Days Lent). Beginning on February 15, Great Lent is a time of preparation for the feast of the Resurrection of Christ (Easter). It is a season of renewed devotion marked by prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. This is a time of repentance and transformation, in which our minds, hearts, and actions are reshaped in conformity with Christ and His teachings. Above all, Great Lent calls us to renew our commitment to the greatest commandments: to love God and to love our neighbors.


The spirit of Lent – renewed devotion and repentance – has always been central to the life of the Mar Thoma Church. While some may view Lenten observances as belonging only to more “orthodox” traditions, our history shows otherwise. Lenten practices have never been discouraged; rather, they have deeply shaped our identity. The Maramon Convention, held annually since 1895, began as a movement of renewal during a time of great crisis, when the church faced uncertainty about its very existence. Gathering on the banks of the Pampa River for prayer, fasting, and reflection on God’s Word, the community sought the guidance of the Holy Spirit. From this revival arose both a renewed sense of identity within the Mar Thoma Church and a revitalized evangelistic zeal.


We can clearly see that prayer, fasting, and meaningful meditation on the Word of God enable us to remain faithful to our mission in life. This truth is embodied in the life of Jesus Himself. Jesus chose to remain obedient to God’s Word and to the mission entrusted to Him – the mission of taking up the cross for the sake of the world. Had He used His power to satisfy His own needs, the path to the cross would have been abandoned, and we would have been deprived of the fullness of salvation.


We are therefore called to follow the way of Jesus and not the way of the world. Rather than seeking personal comfort, security, and power – values our society often promotes – we are invited to walk in the way of the Kingdom. During the season of Great Lent, let us set aside the luxuries of life and devote ourselves more fully to prayer and reflection on the life of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May we be challenged and transformed by His example, and renewed by the living Word of God.


May this holy season of Lent bring repentance, renewal, and revival to all of our hearts.


With love and prayers,
Rev. Christopher Phil Daniel
Vicar, Jerusalem Mar Thoma Church, CT