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THE FORGIVENESS OF GREAT LENT
The Sunday before Lent begins, the day on which the Church liturgically remembers the fall of Adam and Eve, is called Cheesefare Sunday. This is because it is traditionally the last day of eating dairy products before the time of fasting. This day is also called Forgiveness Sunday since everyone must enter the lenten effort by forgiving and asking forgiveness of each other. In many churches, schools and monasteries this is done through a special "rite of forgiveness" following the evening vespers at which the Church formally inaugurates the lenten season. The significance of the act of giving and receiving forgiveness is obvious. God does not forgive us if we do not forgive each other. It is that simple. --For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; --but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Mt. 6:14-15) The Christian life is called the "imitation of God" by the fathers of the Orthodox Church. This conviction comes from the Bible, from the Old Testament, where the Lord through Moses says to His people: "concecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy" (Lev. 11:44)--a sentence quoted in the first letter of Peter in the New Testament: --As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, --but as He who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; since it is written, --"You shall be holy, for I am holy." (1 Pet. 1:14-16) Imitating the holiness of God is the task for human beings set forth also by the apostle Paul. It is the specific task of Christians. (Eph. 4:22-25,31-5:1) The greatest possible "imitation of God" is to be forgiving. God is the One who forgives. All of His love for man (philanthropia) is love for sinners, "since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). ...Love between sinners is essentially expressed in forgiveness. There is no other way. It cannot be otherwise. Forgiveness is the singular expression of love in this fallen world. If, therefore, we desire to be loved and forgiven by God--and even more, if we know that as a matter of fact we are so loved and forgiven--then we must love and forgive each other. The lenten season exists for this purpose: to express the love of God for one another through mutual forgiveness. This is the teaching of Jesus Himself. (Mk. 11:25-26) (Lk. 6:37-38)... [Taken from, "The Lenten Spring" by Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko] |
