Forgiveness Sunday

Yesterday was Forgiveness Sunday in the Orthodox Church. It is the inauguration service into Great Lent, for obvious reasons. The first act of repentance in a fallen world must be the asking and the granting of forgiveness. At Vespers on Sunday evening after the usual prayers, psalms, etc., every person in the parish goes to every other person and begs mutual forgiveness. It is done in an orderly way beginning with the Priest who bows before each person and says, "Forgive me, a sinner." We each respond, "God forgives." Because our parish is small, and because a number of us live in community with each other. . .this service is quite meaningful because like a big family we are constantly stepping on each other's toes. So with most people, when I bow and say, "forgive me, a sinner", all the selfishness, the critical thoughts, the condescension, the mean-spiritedness of my withered and stony little heart comes into view. I really feel like a crummy sinner, and it really helps when the person I know I've offended says, "God forgives." Things really get "meaningful" when you exchange bows with your spouse and beg mutual forgiveness of each other. Like most things associated with Great Lent. . .it is a service filled with a bright sadness.