If you fall and break your leg, you go immediately to the hospital to set it and immobilize it, so that it will heal properly. You don’t postpone it for another day. We prioritize in life and do the important things first. The unimportant things can wait.
Our Orthodox Church also teaches us to prioritize our salvation. The Church uses the word “today” (“simeron”) in its hymns in order to remind us that God’s salvation comes to us “today,” in our present life, and it requires an immediate response from us. Let me share with you some examples from our Church hymns: “Today salvation has come to the world…”; “Christ is born [today], glorify Him…”; “Today Christ comes to be baptized by John…”; “Repent [today] for the Kingdom of God is at hand…” “Today is hung upon the Cross…” “{Today} is the Day of Resurrection…let us be splendid in it…”
The word “today” reminds us not only of the urgency of our salvation, but also that our salvation requires daily attention. We make a new beginning and live our spiritual life daily. As Fr. Florovsky, of blessed memory, used to say, “we are saved, we are being saved, we’ll be saved.” Our salvation is a daily continuous process.
The important things in life require work every day. The athletes in the Olympic games practiced daily in order to succeed and reach the highest level of their sports. The Major League Baseball teams are in Spring Training in order to be ready for their season. Our students are in school learning technology, critical thinking, and the accomplishments of our civilization in order to be ready for their careers.
As Christians we also need to work daily toward our salvation. We must come to our Church to receive the Holy Sacraments, and through them, the Grace of God. We must study His Holy Word, in order to learn and grow spiritually. Remember how profound a single day can be. Zacchaeus, a reviled tax collector, came to see Jesus and Jesus ate with him the same day. The publican went to the Temple, repented for his sins and received forgiveness from God that day. The Prodigal Son repented for his rebellion, returned to his Father and he was received that day as a beloved son.
Our Church is our “spiritual hospital” and our “spiritual school.” We come to Church to receive healing. God provides us with His saving, healing Grace through the Divine Services and Holy Sacraments. But we need to come to Church every Sunday, participate, and be connected to Christ. We should also take advantage of the opportunities we have during Great Lent to move closer to God. During Great Lent, our Church offers Vespers, Matins, Divine Liturgy, Great Compline, Pre-Sanctified Gifts, Salutations, Confession, and Holy Unction, all of which give us an opportunity to receive the Grace of God.
Let me conclude with a contemporary example: You might have a computer, but if you are not connected to an Internet server, you cannot send or receive messages. The Church is “God’s Server” and through it we receive the messages of God, and we share them spiritually with our brothers and sisters in Christ daily.