Homily on Forgiveness Sunday
Romans 13: 11-14: 4; Matthew 6: 14-21.
This Sunday we celebrate the Sunday of forgiveness. In the Gospel today we are reminded that if we do not forgive the All-Holy Trinity will not forgive us our sins. Whilst it can be difficult to forgive, it is important that we try. We are not perfect, but that is what we are striving to be in our Christian lives.
Many of the early Christian Saints in the first years of the Church showed this perfect example of forgiveness – they forgave Saint Paul after he repented for his persecution of Christ’s Church.
Let us do our best to forgive those who come to us seeking forgiveness for in doing so we let go of that which holds us back in the living of our Christian lives.
This Sunday we officially enter the great fast or what in the West is called lent. This season of Lent is a season where we as Christians seek to draw closer to the All-Holy Trinity by letting go of that which holds us back.
We are called at this time to reflect on our lives and cut out that which holds us back from growing in our faith. This is a time when we can work on the health of our bodies and souls! Remember, the body is a sacred as it is the Temple of the All-Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19)!
When reflecting on our lives it is important that we do this in a balanced way. We must not let regret for having committed sin cause us to believe that we are not loved by the All-Holy Trinity. This is a time where we can go before the All-Holy Trinity and ask for His forgiveness.
The All-Holy Trinity loves mankind and He will always accept the apology of a sincere heart. He does not demand that we do grand penances as was done by some in the past. However, if we do choose to do so, He will accept such as a sign of our sincerity out of love for us for we have chosen to do so.
In this time, seek to get closer to the All-Holy Trinity, seek to listen to His gentle voice in your life. Seek and you will find as our Lord and Saviour told us in Matthew 7:7.
This is the time to listen to the All-Holy Trinity’s guidance, it is at these times that the All-Holy Trinity gently guides His faithful to things that are for their benefit to make them spiritually healthy.
Moreover, this is the time as a Christian to look at those around you to see how you can be of service to the other. If the little old lady down the road is lonely go and visit her. If there is something you can do to help someone do it!
It is by doing these small acts of service that we are brought closer to the greatest of all servants – our Lord and Saviour. He was the perfect example of how to worship the All-Holy Trinity through acts of good that help others come to the All-Holy Trinity.
For instance, at the last supper, the King of all humbled Himself and washed the feet of His disciples. Here the God-man served His creation (John 13: 1-17).
Moreover, the God-man deigned to be humbled even to death on the Cross! This was His greatest act of love for us, He offered His life so that we may be able to be restored to that deep communion with the All-Holy Trinity that Adam and Eve enjoyed!
Think of this season as the road that leads to the Cross and finally the triumph of the Resurrection of Our Lord and Saviour. This is a time where we leave the old us behind to grow into the new us to stand and joyfully celebrate with our Church family the great gift of the Resurrection of Our Lord and Saviour!
Without the resurrection we would have no hope of being able to come into deep communion with our God; yet He was incarnated, died and rose from the dead making this communion possible!
So in a way, whilst this season is a season of introspection and spiritual self-discipline, this season is a necessary journey through which each of us need to travel.
This is the season that allows us to step back from our worldly lives and like our Lord and Saviour, enter into the desert, where we can be alone with the All-Holy Trinity. This is a time to reflect on our lives and a time of prayer seeking the guidance of the All-Holy Trinity.
If you can, I suggest having a few days of silent prayer and reflection where you can devote your time to praying to the All-Holy Trinity for yourself and others.
Also, use this time to thank the All-Holy Trinity for all the gifts that He has given you, whatever they may be! Thanking the All-Holy Trinity is a good thing for it shows our love and devotion to Him. Too many people will only ever ask Him for things to then forget to say thank you when they are granted!
Finally, let us pray for those who are suffering in this present crisis in Eastern Europe. Whilst many argue over which side is right or wrong, let us not forget that there is a very human cost which both sides are suffering – whether they are Russian or Ukrainian!
Both sides are losing the lives of young men and women - this is a tragedy! Every life is important to the Lord; every life is of value!
Many of these young people sent in to fight do not necessarily want to partake in these actions - yet they have no choice but to go! This is not to say that some do choose to go out of a sense of duty towards their leaders.
Moreover, what about the civilian cost?
Let us pray for all the souls of those who have lost their lives in this conflict – regardless of which side they are on! Each soldier/civilian is a beloved child of the All-Holy Trinity and as such, deserves the charity of our prayers for their souls!
The greatest act of Charity the living can do for the dead is to pray that the All-Holy Trinity has mercy on them and forgives them their sins!
Let us pray that peace may prevail and that healing may be able to commence for both sides for there are many families who are being torn apart due to this crisis. There are many parents and siblings weeping over the loss of a loved one on both sides of this war!
Let us pray for peace not only here but in the world as a whole. Let us pray that mankind may wake up and realise that killing each other is not the way to the All-Holy Trinity!
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