A Pastoral Letter for the third Lenten Sunday, Mid-Lent 2026

The Most Reverend

ROBERT RABBAT

by the Mercy of God

Melkite Greek-Catholic Eparch of Australia, New Zealand and All Oceania,

to the Clergy, the Religious and All the Faithful of our Holy Eparchy

A Pastoral Letter for the Third Lenten Sunday, Mid-Lent, 2026.

Arabic version available here 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, who fasted, and prayed and kept night vigils,

“There is no saint without a past; there is no sinner without a future.”

St Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430)

Although we probably do not think about it that often, in the world of international competitive sport, many well-known races have a halfway point. Indeed, if we take notice, we will discover that many sporting, cultural or socially bonding events have an intermission or halftime. It would seem that human beings like to divide important or significant happenings into manageable parts, usually two manageable parts!

Today, the Third Sunday of the Great and Holy Lent, Mid-Lent, the Church does exactly that. The People of God pause, assess the last several weeks and set out anew on the journey towards Easter, the Holy and Glorious Pascha of the Lord.

The practice of a Mid-Lenten day of reflection is not peculiar to the Greek Byzantine Churches, but is observed throughout the Church, Catholic and Orthodox, Byzantine and Oriental; and, with many communities there is a renewed concentration on the Holy Cross, usually involving public veneration and processions.

Today the Church holds aloft the two sided cross; not only is the jewelled, golden and triumphant Cross raised on high- the Cross made glorious by the Lord’s Resurrection- but the wooden Cross, rugged and splintery, rough and cruel. In the very midst of Lent, the Church holds on high the two-sided Cross, one side exquisitely beautiful, the other side, stark and unadorned.

The Church reminds us that we cannot have one without the other- the two aspects of the Cross, suffering and glory, are so interwoven that they constitute the one, inseparable entity. The Cross of suffering is the Cross of Glory.

Some of a certain age might remember the milestones that were placed along major highways. Before the days of GPS, these inscribed blocks of stone told travellers how many miles away their destination was. On Mid-Lent Sunday, the Cross is placed before us as a mystical milestone- three Lenten Sundays have passed, three more, including Palm Sunday, will bring us to the beginning of the Great and Holy Week.

In the Gospel pericope for today (Mark 8:34-9:1), Our Lord does not mince his words, he is quite clear and decidedly to the point. He places his Cross, and the ones that we are called to carry, within the context of our own lives; “Let those who would be my disciples take up their cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)

In Byzantine spirituality, the Holy Cross is often called the Tree of Life. Just as the Creator placed the tree of life in the midst of Eden, the Fathers of the Church established this Feast of the Cross midway in Lent. Today’s veneration of the Cross reminds us that just as the first Adam brought sin and death into the earthly paradise, the New Adam, by another Tree brings life, grace and salvation. Indeed, the Cross has become the very gateway to Paradise,

“Now the flaming sword no longer guards the gates of Paradise; it has been mysteriously quenched by the wood of the Cross!” (Kontakion of the Holy Cross)

On this Mid-Lenten Sunday of the Holy Cross, the Church encourages us to look forward.  As a wise Mother, she advises us not to rest easy in a Lent kept well thus far– but also not to become downhearted if we have been less than observant. To each one of us, the Church says, “continue your journey”, or if needs be to some, “begin today!” However, for all of us, as a guide, as an encouragement, and as an unfading beacon, the Church wise beyond all others, holds on high, the Holy Cross.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters, as we continue our Lenten journey, the peoples of the Middle East face the ongoing chaos and upheaval of widespread armed conflict throughout the region. The situation in Lebanon, mainly in the South, is dire as many are forced to flee their homes; and as always, the Churches and monastic communities are turning no one away. As a Lenten almsgiving, I heartily encourage everyone to support our Eparchy’s charitable appeal for the displaced of Lebanon.

I believe that little is to be gained from suburban footpath debates or coffee shop gossip, however, I am convinced that the resolution lies solely in constant and peaceful prayer, fervent and calm prayer; as St Seraphim of Sarov said,

"Acquire a peaceful spirit, and around you thousands will be saved."

I urge everyone to find some time each day in these remaining Lenten weeks to place all in prayer before the God Who-Loves-Humankind.

With my paternal blessing and with prayers assured for the Lenten weeks ahead,

Your fellow pilgrim, 

✠Robert Rabbat, DD

 From our Eparchy at Greenacre, New South Wales

Mid-Lent Sunday, 8 March 2026.