Sunday, March 17, 2013

Forgiveness Sunday

In Eastern Orthodox Church, today is the Forgiveness Sunday. The forgiveness is the core message of Christianity but also a powerful tool to make us free from our painful memories, insults or remorses, all this unsolved problems. It refer to Gospel of Matthew (6:14-21):

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses...
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

 According to orthodox rite, this day you can ask forgiveness of every person you meet this day, but especially people whom you might have really done some harm, or just your relatives and friends (we never know if by chance we could have hurt anyone). Traditionally, one person greets another and says please forgive me, in response he/she says God will forgive you. And I forgive too.
Remebering this wonderful tradition today, let me ask each of you,
Please Forgive Me.

It acts like love-music-
it reaches toward the face, touches it,
and tries to let you know
God's promise: that all will be okay.
It acts like love-music and,
tells the feet,
"You don't have to be so burdened."
My body is covered with wounds
this world made,
but I longed to kiss God, even when He said,
"Could you also kiss the hand that caused
each scar,
for you will not find me until
you do."
It does that music helps us
to forgive.
---by Rabia

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