Why Do We Prepare?

As we begin the Lenten Triodion - a time in the Church when we prepare for Great Lent, which is itself a preparation for Pascha, Abp. Irineos looks at the Orthodox emphasis on preparation and how it should permeate our daily life, being an integral part of our faith. In this homily he discusses how our emphasis on preparation is both based on the Church's focus on eschatology and on beneficent God's preparation of His creation for the coming of Christ and Christ's preparation for his chosen people in the last days.