Forgiveness Sunday

Today is called "Forgiveness Sunday" among my Orthodox friends. At the beginning of Lent each year they practice a formal ritual of asking each other's forgiveness for any offence, discourtesy or disrespect which may have come between them over the past year. This prepares them well for the sacrament of Penance when they ask the Lord to forgive their sins, which forgiveness will be granted us only if we ourselves forgive each other. "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." (Matt. 6.14, 15)"

Also on this Sunday there is a commemoration of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from paradise.

Adam was banished from Paradise through disobedience
and cast out from delight,
beguiled by the words of a woman.
Naked he sat outside the garden, lamenting 'Woe is me!'
Therefore let us all make haste to accept the season of the Fast
and hearken to the teaching of the Gospel,
that we may gain Christ's mercy
and receive once more a dwelling-place in Paradise.

(Sticheron from Lord I have cried, 6th tone, Forgiveness Sunday)

During the 40 days of Lent, those who observe the fast will eat no meat, milk, cheese, eggs or other dairy products. From Forgiveness Sunday until Pascha there are other physical sacrifices made as well. However, the teaching about this that is most powerful to me says: "The services of the church and the fathers stress over and over that our physical fast from food is useless if we do not also strive to "fast" from our iniquities. Fasting from food is an important aid to the help purify the soul, and to gain in virtue." (http://www.orthodox.net/questions/forgiveness_sunday_1.html#a4)

I am not Orthodox. But my own spiritual walk has been deeply enriched by learning about Lent. Today I begin my own Fast and shift my thoughts to increased prayer and study, in an effort to draw closer to the Savior, and through His sacred atonement to release myself from my sins.

My practice of Lent will look quite different than those of my Orthodox buddies. But the intent and the inner workings of the journey will have much in common.

Last night went to Stake Conference of my own faith where we were taught by the visiting General Authority, Elder Glenn Pace.

Part of what I got out of the conference is a better understanding of this basic teaching: Scriptures are not the most important avenue to truth. They are the PRELIMINARY to that truth, which is personal revelation. It is through the feelings we get from the Holy Ghost that we come to understand truth at its deepest level. It is important that we study sacred things and fill our mind with the teachings of the prophets, but that is simply like laying the kindling in preparation to light a fire. The Holy Spirit is the one who lights the fire within us to bring us enlightenment and truth, not the culmination of intellectual study of even the most serious scripture scholar. As we immerse ourselves in prayer and scripture study we will open our minds and hearts to receive personal revelation from on high, and over time we can school ourselves in how to recognize it, how to fully receive it, and when we do we must also learn how to follow it.

It is my hope that over the next 40 days of this season of Great Lent I will be able to follow that council. I will try to fine the courage, humility, and determination to do what I need to do to set aside the concerns of the world and open up my own spirit to whatever it is that my Heavenly Father would have me know.

I have two particular tools that I will be using during this time: the book 21 Days Closer to Christ by Emily Freeman and the Jesus Prayer.

This is what Deseret Book has to say about 21 Days: "Nestled between the covers of this beautifully illustrated book is an invitation--an invitation to come closer to Christ through a 21-day journey. Each step of the journey introduces a new concept that will help you come to know and recognize the hand of the Lord in your life. With an emphasis on daily scripture study and personal prayer, each chapter concludes with an assignment designed to help you apply and personalize concepts such as humility, gratitude, and listening to the Spirit. In the rush of everyday life, this unique book provides a refreshing pause and the opportunity to focus our efforts on becoming closer to Christ."

I picked this up at the LDS bookstore in Mesa when we were in AZ for my stepson's wedding. I've flipped through it some and been touched by the beauty of the artwork, inspired by the way the assignments are laid out. I am looking forward to digging in to the meat of it.

Then, my other tool will be the Jesus Prayer. This is something I learned from one of my Orthodox pals, Thomas R.: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner."

Overall I plan to spend more time in prayer in the coming weeks, and to make those prayers more meaningful. But aside from that assigned time in the quiet of my bedroom when I come to my knees, I will strive to keep the words of the Jesus Prayer in my mind throughout each day, silently repeating it as a backdrop to all that I do.

I have much to reflect on in coming to better undertand repentence and forgiveness.
Even though I don't do the ritual that took place today at St. Silouan and countless other Orthodox congregations around the world - I acknowledge that I need to ask for forgiveness for much.

Of the several blogs I write on this is the least read by others...so even though it is available publicly I don't really think of the things I say as meant for anyone but me. Still, for any of my friends or family who may stumble by...I ask for your forgiveness.

Whatever it is that you believe - be it bunnies and chocolate in baskets or the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, may your Easter/Pascha season be blessed.