Free Yourself And Forgive
from A Pilgrim’s Odyssey Hosted by Silouan Green
Yesterday, we celebrated Forgiveness Sunday. It is the last Sunday before my Orthodox Church begins celebrating Lent and we enter our long fast. The highlight is forgiveness vespers where we circle around the church asking forgiveness of each of other as we remind ourselves what God and Christ has done for us. We ask: "Forgive me a sinner." And then the reply: "God forgives, forgive me." It is a powerful service. It is people you see every week all year coming to a deeper communion with each other as we ask forgiveness, and a time for family to heal and rejuvenate. We go through our year, not always being our best. Coveting others, anger at others, selfishness. God forgives, but do we forgive each other? Anger and vengeance distort. We are reminded this day, from Matthew 18:21-22: "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.' " We want the spirit of God to enter our hearts, we want to follow a higher path. Don’t let that be distorted by a lack of forgiveness. Forgive, and forgive freely.
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