Each Sunday in the Paschal Season is devoted to a particular theme. The Paschal Season is 40 days of Sundays!
The broad theme of the Paschal season is WATER. Following the waters of baptism!
On Bright Monday, for example, it is traditional for Orthodox women to ‘sprinkle’ the men (especially the priest) with holy water. On Bright Tuesday, the men sprinkle the women.
2nd Sunday of the Holy Myrrhbearers
This Sunday commemorates the Myrrhbearing woman and Nicodemus and the noble Joseph of Arimathea, and how their tears of sorrow were transformed into tears of joy.
There are eight women who are generally identified as the myrrh-bearers. They are Mary Magdalene, Mary, the Theotokos, Joanna, Salome, Mary the wife of Cleopas , Susanna, Mary of Bethany, and Martha of Bethany.
3rd Sunday The Sunday of the Paralytic
After that, the Sunday of the Paralytic, Jesus heals the paralytic who laid by the Sheep’s Pool in Jerusalem for thirty-eight years, waiting for someone to put him into the pool. The first one to enter the pool after an angel troubled the water would be healed of his infirmities, but someone always entered the pool before him. Christ is the Source of Living Water. The Church reminds the faithful that through baptism in the church we, too, are healed and saved by Christ for eternal life. Thus, in the church, we are told, together with the paralytic, to sin no more that nothing worse befall you” (John 5:14).
4th Sunday Sunday of Samaritan Woman
This Sunday deals with St. Photini with whom Christ spoke at Jacob’s Well from the Gospel of St John. Again the theme is the “living water” and the recognition of Jesus as God’s Messiah. She goes forward to proclaim Christ to the Samaritans who acknowledge Christ as the Savior of the World! Powerful witness from a sinner who was illumined (Photini means ’light’) by meeting the Source of Living Water. This is a reminder of new life in Christ, of drinking of the “living water,” of true worship of God in the Christian messianic age “in Spirit and in Truth” (John 4:23-24). Salvation is offered to all: Jews and Gentiles, men and women, saints and sinners.
5th Sunday Sunday of the Blind Man
Finally, on the Sunday of the Blind Man, Jesus takes dirt and spittle and gives sight to a man born blind, after he washes in the pool of Siloam (which means ‘sent’). Jesus takes clay and water to heal this man born blind. He is then immediately sent to wash in the pool, and receives his sight.
There is a pattern which we see every week.
After the experience of Christ as the fountain of Living Water (the Holy Spirit, that is) we are reminded, like the Apostles, not to try and spread the Word until clothed with power from on high, but having received the Holy Spirit, we must, like them, spread the good news, the Gospel, and give our testimony before all men and all nations.
We have a testimony to give. God has given us eternal life, and freedom from the bondage of our passions.
