Nothing is too hard to forgive

On this the last Sunday of the Great Fast, the Church invites us to take one final look at our sinfulness. Over the past nine weeks our eyes have been directed toward the ultimate goal of repentance and salvation. One does not take place without the other. Looking quickly at the Gospel lessons of the past nine weeks, we find those who were saved lived not for themselves but for God who were saved.

• Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee – It was the sinful tax collector…
• Sunday of the Prodigal Son – It was the sinful younger son…
• Sunday of Judgment – It was those who saw God in others…
• Sunday of Forgiveness – It was those who chose to forgive…
• Sunday of Orthodoxy – It was those who understood the Holy Scriptures…
• Sunday of Gregory Palamas – It was those who brought their friend to Christ…
• Sunday of the Holy Cross – It is those who willingly deny themselves and accept their cross…
• Sunday of St John Climicus – It was those who realized they needed God…
• Sunday of St Mary of Egypt – It was those who were willing to be last among their friends…

By now the Church expects that we have realized our sinfulness, admitted our mistakes, and chose to return to God and “take our lumps” with whatever God has planned for us. Some of us may be worried that our lives are not worthy of God’s forgiveness. Maybe some of us worry that our sins too big, or that we can’t possible change this late in life.

That is one blessing about the Great Fast. Today the Church brings our attention to one of the greatest sinners in the history of the Church. Mary of Egypt was a prostitute who was given a second chance by God. She devoted the remainder of her life to total repentance if God would allow her just a chance to enter the Church. After He allowed Mary to enter the Church, she left and spent the rest of her life in the dessert. Her repentance was so complete that even wild animals respected and reverence her body at the time of her death.

Your sins may not be as drastic as Mary of Egypt and you probably are not being called to live the rest of your life in the desert, but the fact remains. No matter how bad you think you may have sinned, it is not too late to repent and start fresh. It isn’t too late to return to God, schedule a confession and begin a new life dedicated to God and serving others. It is the whole witness of the Great Fast. We are asked to admit our sins, return to God, seek His forgiveness, and begin our new life free from the past’s sins. Nothing is too hard to forgive when it comes to God.

Here are today’s Readings:

Epistle Reading: St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:11-14 (RSV) - BRETHREN, when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the Holy Place, taking not the blood of goats and calves but his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
 Gospel Reading: Mark 10:32-45 (RSV) - At that time, Jesus taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man will be delivered to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and deliver him to the Gentiles; and they will mock him, and spit upon him, and scourge him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise." And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him, and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" And they said to him, "We are able." And Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant of James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
 

God will raise us up!

When we arrive at that moment in life when we just don’t think we can make it any longer, then we turn to God. Just when we think there is no hope for us, then we realize that we can’t do it without God. God is always willing to raise us up, but He will wait for us to come to Him. There is just one problem. Until we learn to admit we need God we can’t, and probably won’t, bring ourselves to God. Through the prayer and fasting of the Great Fast we discover that with God, and only with God, we can accomplish anything....but most importantly He will raise us up to heaven.

Following Christ to Heaven

Half way through the Great Fast the Church reminds us of our destination. We are on a journey to the Cross. We are on a journey to heaven, but first we must learn to deny ourselves and take up our cross. The Church provides us with all the tools we need for our journey including fasting, almsgiving, patience, love, forgiveness, repentance, and humility. Once we can overcome our own self-desires we can then, and only then following Christ to heaven.

The Destination Matters!

On the Third Sunday of the Great Fast, the Church places in front of us the Precious and Holy Cross of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. We are half-way through our Great Lenten Journey, just as with any journey, we see a sign of what is ahead of us on the road. Every traveler needs to be reminded of the destination every now and then during the journey. That is the case today. The Holy Cross is our destination.

The challenging words of Christ in today’s Gospel speak profoundly of the destination of the Great Fast. If we desire to follow Christ, we cannot avoid our cross. “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Mark 8.34) The Great Fast is not about a diet or mastering some fantastic vegan recipe. The Great Fast is about one thing and only one thing. It is about learning to deny ourselves and take up our cross.

In the case of every journey, if we don’t know where we are headed we are destined to get lost along the way. If we don’t understand the Great Fast as a journey to the Cross of Christ, then we may lose weight because we fasted, but we will never follow Christ into heaven. If we don’t understand the Great Fast is about putting our agenda aside, we will never learn the path to paradise. The destination matters.

During the Divine Liturgy today we will process the Precious Cross around the Church while we sing the hymn, “We venerate Your Cross, O Master, and we glorify Your Holy Resurrection. Τὸν Σταυρόν σου προσκυνοῦμεν, Δέσποτα, καὶ τὴν ἁγίαν σου ἀνάστασιν δοξάζομεν.” Without the Cross, there is no Resurrection. If we are going to celebrate Holy and Great Pascha in a few weeks, then we must first encounter the Cross. Life without struggle is life without relief, and life without sorrow is life without joy. If we desire to follow Christ into heaven, the only way is to follow Him first to the Cross.

This is why the Orthodox Church lifts the Cross high in the Holy of Holies for all to see. For us the Cross is a sign of victory over death. It is a sign of life. It is a sign of the power of God. I invite you to take an opportunity and evaluate your Great Lenten journey so far. Has it brought you closer to Christ? Has it been a struggle? Has it opened your eyes to your sinfulness? If not, then you may not be on the right path.

Thankfully the Church reminds you where you are headed…if you desire to follow Christ. The cross is the sign of our destination, and when it comes to our road to heaven, the destination matters!

Here are today’s Readings:

Epistle Reading: St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:1-6 (RSV) -BRETHREN, since we have a high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek."
 Gospel Reading: Mark 8:34-38; 9:1 (RSV) - The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."
 

God Always Remembers

When we think about God many times we place human characteristics upon Him. We think about our fallen human passions and we presume God shares in those passions. When we hear that God is angry we presume His anger is similar to our anger. Since we are limited in our ability to understand God, we shouldn’t be surprised that we confuse His reality with our reality. That is part of the “growing into His likeness” the Church speaks about. We were created in His image, but still lack His likeness. That will come when we are finally complete and resting in total communion with Him in heaven. Until then we need to constantly remind ourselves that we are fallen, and our passions, emotions, and other human characteristics cannot be attributed to God.

Today is an example. In today’s reading from Genesis we are told, “But God remember Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle there were with him in the ark.” (Genesis 8.1) We are tempted to read this verse with human minds “as if” prior to this point God had not remembered Noah and the animals. It makes sense to us when we read, “They were blotted out from the earth.” (Genesis 7.23) It also makes sense IF we consider the Flood as punishment from God. (See the 2017 Daily Lenten Journey Day 12)But since we don’t consider the Flood to be punishment but salvation, then God couldn’t have forgotten His people, even those who were blotted out from the earth. God had a plan the whole time which He never forgot.

Sometimes we may feel that God has forgotten us in our struggle. We may feel that since He has chosen to not remove our struggle from our life that He has ignored our prayers. We feel this way because we are fallen and lack total understanding of God. Admittedly it is easier to say than to embrace this truth about our lack of knowledge, but it remains true nonetheless. This is yet another benefit to the Great Fast when we are asked to increase our fasting, increase our time in prayer and worship, increase our almsgiving, increase our participation in the Sacraments, all to tune our hearts to hear the Word of God. This is why Be Transfigured Ministries offers a Daily Lenten Journey, so that we can begin every day with a fresh focus on God’s promise. What is His promise?

Since the first humans walked the earth, God has promised to be with us. He will never abandon us. He will never forget us, though we may feel AS IF He has. Just as the flood waters eventually abated at God’s command, our pain, suffering and struggle will also eventually come to an end. God knows the best time and manner for the end, no matter how long we may wait. God always remembers!

Here are today’s Old Testament Readings:

Isaiah 11:10-12:2 (RSV) -  Thus says the LORD: In that day the root of Jesse shall stand as an ensign to the peoples; him shall the nations seek, and his dwellings shall be glorious. In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant which is left of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Ethiopia, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.  He will raise an ensign for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.  The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart, and those who harass Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah, and Judah shall not harass Ephraim.  But they shall swoop down upon the shoulder of the Philistines in the west, and together they shall plunder the people of the east. They shall put forth their hand against Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites shall obey them.  And the LORD will utterly destroy the tongue of the sea of Egypt; and will wave his hand over the River with his scorching wind, and smite it into seven channels that men may cross dryshod.  And there will be a highway from Assyria for the remnant which is left of his people, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt.  You will say in that day: "I will give thanks to thee, O LORD, for though thou wast angry with me, thy anger turned away, and thou didst comfort me.  "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation."
 Genesis 7:11-8:3 (RSV) - In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened.  And rain fell upon the earth forty days and forty nights.  On the very same day Noah and his sons, Shem and Ham and Japheth, and Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons with them entered the ark, they and every beast according to its kind, and all the cattle according to their kinds, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth according to its kind, and every bird according to its kind, every bird of every sort.  They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life.  And they that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the LORD shut him in.  The flood continued forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth.  The waters prevailed and increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark floated on the face of the waters.  And the waters prevailed so mightily upon the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered; the waters prevailed above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep.  And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, birds, cattle, beasts, all swarming creatures that swarm upon the earth, and every man; everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died.  He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark.  And the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days.  But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided; the fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained, and the waters receded from the earth continually. At the end of a hundred and fifty days the waters had abated.

Proverbs 10:1-22 (RSV) - A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.  Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.  The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.  A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.  A son who gathers in summer is prudent, but a son who sleeps in harvest brings shame.  Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.  The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.  The wise of heart will heed commandments, but a prating fool will come to ruin.  He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.  He who winks the eye causes trouble, but he who boldly reproves makes peace.  The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.  Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.  On the lips of him who has understanding wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.  Wise men lay up knowledge, but the babbling of a fool brings ruin near.  A rich man's wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin.  The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin.  He who heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof goes astray.  He who conceals hatred has lying lips, and he who utters slander is a fool.  When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent.  The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the mind of the wicked is of little worth.  The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.  The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

Faith Comes First

Today is the Feast of the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebastia and the Church allows for an “extra” Presanctified Liturgy. I take this as an excellent opportunity to remind you that as Orthodox Christians our goal is to keep the Holy Traditions of the Church as primary. During the Great Fast, the only “regular” Divine Liturgies are scheduled on Saturdays, Sunday or on the Feast of Annunciation. So today, even though it is a feast, we do not celebrate a regular Liturgy since that would be considered too much of a celebration.

In recent years I have encountered many “otherwise faithful” people who depart easily from the Holy Traditions of the Great Fast to celebrate various events. It seems to me that many people act as if it is impossible to keep the fast for more than a few days. Many behave as if their birthday or anniversary cannot be celebrated in a Lenten manner. What is Lenten manner?

Just like the Church offers the Presanctified Liturgy during the weekdays of the Great Fast because a regular Liturgy is considered too celebratory, we should learn to celebrate other events in our life in the same fashion. So if your birthday or anniversary or other important days happen to occur during the Great Fast, consider the Holy Tradition of the Church. Here’s an example. The Feast of Saint George is delayed if it occurs during the Great Fast. Instead it is celebrated on Bright Monday, the day after Pascha. Let’s face it, we reschedule celebrations all the time for other less important reasons. How many times have you said, “We’ll celebrate your birthday next weekend,” because you have to work the actual day? Well if we can move a birthday from Tuesday to Saturday so we don’t miss work, why not delay it until after Pascha so we can attend Church? Is work more important than Church?

If you must celebrate your birthday during the Great Fast, I invite you to keep the fast and character of Great Lent. Instead of going out dancing, stay home and enjoy a quite family night talking or building a puzzle. Rather than going out for prime rib, try a new health food restaurant and enjoy a healthy (and Lenten) salad with grilled shrimp. In this way, you will be keeping the special event in perspective while still remembering that your faith comes first. Orthodoxy is a way of life, and it about time we start living it.

Here are the readings for today:

Epistle Reading: St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 12:1-10 (RSV) - BRETHREN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation which addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage when you are punished by him. For the Lord disciplines him whom he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers to discipline us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father.
 Gospel Reading: Matthew 20:1-16 (RSV) - The Lord said this parable, "The kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing; and he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?' They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.' And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.' And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the householder, saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you, and go; I choose to give to this last as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or is your eye evil because I am good?' So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen."

The Faith Problem

When people are confronted with pain and suffering they turn to God, which is a good thing. The not-so-good thing is when someone suggests that God didn’t save someone who may have suffered some tragedy. The tragedy is often in the light of some accident or other sudden illness. Most people I have met eventually come to terms with the death of loved one who succumbed to a long term illness. The “faith problem” as I might call it, comes when we are suddenly face-to-face with death.

The reality of sudden tragedy has been a real part of human life since the very beginning as we are reminded in today’s reading from Genesis. When Cain killed his brother Abel, Adam and Eve were faced with the sudden ugliness of the fallen world. Adam and Eve, as we will read tomorrow, continued to honor their relationship with God and had additional children. They didn’t blame God. They didn’t ask why He allowed their son to die. They most likely figured that, as God had already told them, life would be a struggle from now on, and they could either accept the struggle and push forward, or they could sit pouting that God hadn’t hear their prayers.

The reality is that life is hard, and just because tragedy happens, doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love you. Just because a loved one is healed in the way we wish, doesn’t mean they haven’t been saved by God. As Orthodox Christians our salvation is not found in our earthly life, but in our eternal life in heaven with God. Take a  moment and read today’s readings and you will see that life has always been a struggle, but God has always had a plan to rescue us from the struggle. His promise isn’t to always rescue us while we are still alive, but He for sure will rescue us from eternal struggle if we learn to love Him and live in communion with Him. That much is your choice during the Great Fast. Will you spend energy wondering why God didn’t save your friend or loved one? It is the faith problem that Great Lent is meant to help you solve!

Here are today’s Old Testament Readings:

Isaiah 5:7-16 (RSV) - Thus says the Lord: For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, a cry!  Woe to those who join house to house, who add field to field, until there is no more room, and you are made to dwell alone in the midst of the land.  The LORD of hosts has sworn in my hearing: "Surely many houses shall be desolate, large and beautiful houses, without inhabitant.  For ten acres of vineyard shall yield but one bath, and a homer of seed shall yield but an ephah."  Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening till wine inflames them!  They have lyre and harp, timbrel and flute and wine at their feasts; but they do not regard the deeds of the LORD, or see the work of his hands.  Therefore my people go into exile for want of knowledge; their honored men are dying of hunger, and their multitude is parched with thirst.  Therefore Sheol has enlarged its appetite and opened its mouth beyond measure, and the nobility of Jerusalem and her multitude go down, her throng and he who exults in her.  Man is bowed down, and men are brought low, and the eyes of the haughty are humbled.  But the LORD of hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy in righteousness.
 Genesis 4:8-15 (RSV) -  Cain said to Abel his brother, "Let us go out to the field." And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him.  Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?"  And the LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.  And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.  When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength; you shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth."  Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear.  Behold, thou hast driven me this day away from the ground; and from thy face I shall be hidden; and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will slay me."  Then the LORD said to him, "Not so! If any one slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who came upon him should kill him.
 
Proverbs 5:1-15 (RSV) - My son, be attentive to my wisdom, incline your ear to my understanding; that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.  For the lips of a loose woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.  Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; she does not take heed to the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it. And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth.  Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house; lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless; lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of an alien; and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed, and you say, "How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!  I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.  I was at the point of utter ruin in the assembled congregation."  Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well.