Forgiveness Sunday
Categories: uncategorized
Date: 05 March 2006 07:04:45
Through eating Adam was cast out of Paradise. And so, as he sat in front of it, he wept, lamenting with a pitiful voice and saying, "Woe is me, what have I suffered, wretch that I am! I transgressed one commandment of the Master, and now I am deprived of every good thing. Most holy Paradise, planted because of me and shut because of Eve, pray to him who made you and fashioned me, that once more I be filled with your flowers." Then the Saviour said to him, "I do not want the creature which I fashioned to perish, but to be saved and come to knowledge of the truth, because the one who comes to me I will in no way cast out."
Hymn from Saturday Vespers
Today we celebrated Cheesefare Sunday [last day for dairy] / Forgiveness Sunday / the Expulsion of Adam from Paradise. Great Lent begins tomorrow and today, as we recalled Adam's disobedience that led to his and Eve's expulsion from Paradise, we begin to think of fasting: not only from food, though that is part of the Church's teaching for the Lenten season, but, importantly also, fasting from the sinful desires and thoughts which trouble us. During Great Lent a heightened awareness of our need to trample these down and to commit our whole life to Christ is given: may it be that this continues throughout my entire life.
But, for me, the most moving part of today is the action usually participated in at Vespers. As we could not hire the hall this evening, we did part of the Forgiveness Sunday Vespers immediately after Divine Liturgy. The Hymn of St Ephraim is heard for the first time, amid many prostrations:
O Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of laziness, despair, lust of power, and idle talk!
But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Your servant!
O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brothers and sisters, for You are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.
And then, in a very moving and blessed action, we approach each person in the parish (we form a circle after kissing the cross held by the priest) and ask for forgiveness. We begin Great Lent by acknowledging we have hurt and offended others: and we ask for forgiveness for this. I confess, to me at least, it seems a bit odd at first but as I continued, and as I looked in each person's eyes as I said the words, I recalled times you may've been short with them or not helped when I should've: and the words, "Forgive me, a sinner", rang clear and caused a knot in my stomach.
Today we were also blessed to have the Curate of Wiblog fame visit our parish while he was in Sin City for the weekend. He participated in the Forgiveness Sunday actions, and even gave the Orthodox three-cheek kiss. Very ecumenical, our beloved Curate. Great to see him again also.
And, for any offences I have no doubt committed against any of you dear readers, by action, or inaction, I ask for your forgiveness. May God forgive me.