Today, on the eve of Great Lent, the Holy Church reminds us about two great truths: the greatness of the mercy of God and the power of forgiveness. Today, we remember the expulsion of our forefather Adam from Paradise. His sin deprived mankind of its Heavenly Motherland, separated us from God, and brought suffering, pain, and death into the world. But along with this expulsion, a promise was given — a promise of salvation, which was fulfilled in the redeeming sacrifice of Christ.

In order to enter the Kingdom of God again, only realising one's sin is not enough. An active repentance is needed — a profound change of one's soul, its turning to God. And the first thing necessary for it is the ability to forgive. "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you" (Matt. 6:14). 

Forgiveness is not weakness. It is a huge power, capable of healing our souls and our world. We live in an era of divisions, when hatred is sown everywhere. When people are taught to think that evil can be defeated only through evil, and violence can be responded to only with greater violence. That to forgive is to give up and lose honour. But is it not clear that this is a path into an abyss? Is it not obvious that the propaganda of malice leads only to death?

To forgive is not to forget offences, not to close one's eyes to injustice, but to entrust the just judgment to God. This is what the power of a Christian is in: not letting evil destroy his soul, not letting hatred settle in his heart and thus increase the territory of darkness by an entire person — himself. 

How to forgive those who cause us pain? Who ruin our homes, persecute us for our faithfulness to our Mother Church, who harass us, oppress us, deprive us of justice? How to forgive those who, blinded with anger, are destroying everything sacred?

There is one answer: it is impossible without God. But everything is possible with God. Christ prayed for his executioners on the Cross. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." (Lk. 23:34). Likewise we ought to pray for those who are committing lawlessness. Not for their sake, but for the sake of the salvation of our own souls. For the sake of the triumph of the TRUTH of God!

The greatest nobility was shown to us by Christ. He did not curse His enemies, did not prove to them that they were wrong. He showed the world the path of love, and it was this LOVE that defeated death.

The upcoming Great Lent is a special time of our reconciliation with God, a time of spiritual cleansing. It is a chance to look into one's soul and find out what it is filled with. Do dark hatred, envy, and malice dwell in it? Or is there at least a spark of good and light, from which the Lord can ignite the flame of holy love? Are we ready to forgive, as the Lord taught to forgive?

The day will come when everything hidden will be revealed, and God will reward each according to his works. Today, we are faced with a choice: to feel bitter or cleanse our hearts. To bear the load of resentment or leave it at the foot of the Cross. To find ourselves by the right or by the left side of the Lord when the time of His Last Judgment comes.

Dear brothers and sisters! 
I sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, ask all of you for forgiveness today — for everything done and not done, for all the involuntary insults, for the moments when I failed to help or support. 

While we are still alive, we have a chance to correct everything. And Great Lent is a true spring of soul, a time of renewing and awakening, when we can truly become alive again. Let this gracious period become for all of us a starting point on the path to a good change of ourselves, to forgiveness and reconciliation with God and our neighbours.

Happy Sunday of Forgiveness!