It is truly my hope and priestly prayer that this Great Fast has been spiritually beneficial for you and that as we arrive at the Great and Glorious of all Days, Pascha-Easter, that your heart is filled with the joy of knowing that you are loved by God – loved so very much that He spared nothing so that you and I might know how to live this life. I hope that you truly believe that His suffering, death and resurrection were endured by Him so that we might know that life is immortal and that we might have some insight as to how we can effectively meet the challenges which life presents to us. The Church has again reminded us how He met the challenges of His life. He did not complain! He was not bitter! He was forgiving and found within Himself the strength to love as He was hated by others and to face death with nobility and grace.