Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Growing up, is there anyone who never lied to his parents? Is there anyone who never made up a story about being late from school, about bad grades or about spent money? I suspect few of us grew up without spinning some manner of fib or tall tale!

However, parents always had that “sixth sense” that enabled them to know when we lied. How many were induced to confess by the use of some form of the dreaded phrase: “Now you look me in the eye and tell me . . . ?” Even the most creative and best rehearsed fabrication fell like a house of cards in the face of that tactic!

What is it about looking a person in the eye that forces us to ‘come clean?’ Evidently it is that the adage, “the eyes are the windows of the soul” is true — that looking into someone’s eyes can truly reveal what is written on the soul.

But when is the last time we really looked into the eyes of Jesus? How long has it been since we slowed the pace of our lives long enough to gaze into the mournful, yet loving, eyes of our Lord — such as is depicted in His many icons?

Isn’t time we stop lying to God and to ourselves — that we stop believing we’re happy with the path our lives are on? We can forget our shortcomings by immersing ourselves in work, fame, fortune & material goods. But what good is it to postpone the inevitable — that someday we will all have to look Jesus in the eye and account for our lives?

During Holy Week we are reminded of all Christ endured for our sakes. In the face of the sacrifice of His life, can we do less than confess our sins & shortcomings to Him? In light of His pain and humiliation, can we avoid opening our hearts and inviting Him to bring soberness and peace to our minds? Do we think we can hide from Him forever?

Join your fellow parishioners this coming Holy Week. Let’s step off the merry-go-round of this world and give Christ at least this week in exchange for all He has done for us. Let’s honor God’s love for us by together taking part in this most sacred of weeks.

We’ll be waiting for you. Let’s together look into His — and into each others’ — eyes and work in unison to prepare ourselves for the day (as is said in the Liturgy) when we will all have to offer up “a good defense before the awesome judgment seat of Christ.”

Wishing you Καλή Ανάσταση, I remain yours
In His Service,

Father Taso