Forgiveness Sunday 1995

Sermon notes   Forgiveness Sunday     3/5/1995

We are about to embark on a heroic and noble journey. Our journey which will begin today will end on April 23, some 7 Sundays from now. We will be challenged by many perils, and it is only our faith and hope which will get us through to the end. Our journey is called Great Lent, our duties on this perilous voyage include forgiving, fasting, repenting, praying, maintaining sobriety, being vigilant, and loving. May God help strengthen us on this sojourn with His Holy Spirit, with His Word, with His presence, and be allowing us always to see and move toward the dawning Light of the Resurrection.

Sometimes when we think about this great voyage of Lent, the image which comes to mind is that Pascha is all light, the light at the end of the tunnel, far away. The tunnel full of darkness is in this imagery Great Lent. It is a darkness which we must pass through to get to the Light of Pascha. But that image is not totally correct, for Lent starts with today’s Epistle lesson, which said,

(Romans 13:11-14:4)
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

The imagery of today’s Epistle lesson, is now is the time to wake up, the dawn is come, the darkness is past.
The darkness is the time before Lent, this is now the dawn, the time to arouse ourselves from sleep and get to work, to wake up because the sunrise/daylight/dawn have arrived!

As one of the hymns we will sing tonight at Vespers says,
The Lenten spring shines forth,
the flower of repentance!
Let us cleanse ourselves from all evil,
crying out to the Giver of Light:
Glory to You, O lover of man!”

The imagery is not at all one of darkness, but of light, lent is said to be spring, not winter, a renewing, life giving season. Darkness and sadness belong to the past, for the Great Fast is here, the time to renew our lives and wake up from the long spiritual hibernation, and with joy and vigor to run into the season of fasting.

One other image to keep in mind. It has been said among drug addicts and alcoholics that a definition of insanity is to do the same things over and over and then expect something to change. Nothing will change unless we do some things differently. Great Lent is the time to stop the insanity and to do some things differently. Repent, forgive, pray, love.

Today, the Lesson of our Savior, to make a change and stop the insanity is:

If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.  (Matthew 6:14-15)

Forgive others from your heart. Do not bear grudges against one another. Stop treating people remembering all their past faults. Treat them as if you have forgiven them, not building upon all past bad experiences, but with patience, love, kindness and respect. In doing this, you will bring about a great change in your own life and something new and different will be made possible for you and our parish community this Lent.

May God bless each of you as we embark on this journey. I hope most of you will join us tonight at 7pm when we begin Vespers and the journey of Great Lent.