By Father Andrew Lemeshonok
The Great Lent begins. It is the most important period
of the church life, as well as the spiritual life of a faithful person. We may
speak about how bad we are, and you hear that from me all the time. But we can
say how great our God is. We may have received absolution from sins a thousand
times in this life. Without doing anything we get limitless love, which allows
us to keep our head above the water. This love brings us to the church and to
the chalice. Our God is so great that we can speak about holiness, about Pascha
and Resurrection. Our God is so great that we are allowed to attend His Great
Supper, where everything is transfigured and becomes God-like. Maybe it lasts
for just a second, but this second is so precious…
Forgiveness
Sunday. To ask for forgiveness, we need to love, to believe, to understand and
to sympathize. And how is it possible if your own soul is dark and empty? In
our life everything is possible. “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?”
How can a person, corrupted by sin, become a saint, who strives to attain the
eternal life. “You take My blood and My body”. How could it be possible? Can we
really estimate the power of God? Of course, we try to adjust everything to
ourselves. God does not reject this. He accepts the word we say today. And we
need this word, because it is what we want to say to Him. Tomorrow our word can
be wiser, but today it is as it is. We came to the church to help each other,
to support each other, because we understand what happened when the man
violated the commandment of love and trust to the Lord.
You understand
this, because you live with it, with this crime constantly happening inside
you. But you should not hide, you should come and ask God for forgiveness, just
as you can. You know He will forgive you, He will purify and heal you. This is
why we should not cry in despair, but hope in God and trust Him. No matter how
crooked is our earthly path, God will make it straight, if only we trust Him.
He will do this if only we do not follow the example of our ancestors, who hid
from God and accused everyone, even the Maker Himself, of their fall. Everyone,
but not themselves. This is why, my dear brothers and sisters, we all need
help. And we get this help.
Today each
priest will bless you in your spiritual work. Of course, each of us has his own
spiritual measure, and often people say “I am sick”, “I am weak”, “I cannot
fast”... But it is not about a special menu and fasting, it is about your condition,
tour attitude to what is happening inside you. It is about the spirit,
which has to strengthen our ugly body and make us stronger in our struggle
against sin.
Every year,
when we come to this moment, we step closer to the line, behind which eternity begins. “Repent, for the Kingdom of
Heaven is near”. This is why I would like to wish you spiritual joy and
spiritual freshness, as well as faith, hope and love, which are the greatest
gifts given by God. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden”… God
wants to gather all who suffer, who want to live forever and to learn how to
love. He is ready to accept everyone without any limitations. “Come unto me and
learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your
souls”.
Of course, it
is a wonderful period. During this period, there are many great services and we
get much spiritual food. I think, at least some of this food should Something
in our life should change. As St. Seraphim said to Archimandrite Sophrony: “Sow
the seeds even in stone. What if they can grow?”
The Lord can
build a church even in the hearts of such vulnerable and foolish people like
us. God can turn us into saints, if only we want this. He does not want to bring us to the Kingdom
of Heaven by force. This is our path. This is the path of our souls to the
essence of love, which is Golgotha. This is really the mountain, where our
salvation has happened. However, it is rather difficult to say that we are
ready to be here with God, to stand near His Cross, bearing our own one. It is
rather difficult to say that we are pleased to be here, while we suffer from
sorrows and diseases. We want to leave, to go somewhere, where it is easier to
live, where the life is more comfortable and the food is fetter. But we have to
endure. So, dear brothers and sisters, I have to ask you all for forgiveness,
and I have to do it sincerely. It is not so easy.
One can ask for
forgiveness hundred times. But we should do it from our heart, right? Of
course, I am responsible for what is going on in the convent. As a spiritual
father, I am responsible for this before you, the people who come here for
help. However, I think instead, “I am so tired of this! I need to sneak out!”
It is just horrible. It is so horrible, but you live still live like this… Of
course, I am guilty for my cowardice and faint-heartedness.
I think, we
should rely on what I have mentioned before – the love of God, which can create
a son for Abraham from a piece of stone. The Holy Spirit should work in the
Church. If there is no Spirit, but only flash and blood, then it leads to
sorrows. And these sorrows are often wrong. I wish there is the Spirit. I wish
there is the God’s love, so that we do not speak from our own, but God speaks
through us. Then it will have effect, then it will purify, if it inspires. But
today it is what it is. Forgive me, a poor man, for my platitude, for
everything what hurt you or confused you. Forgive me and pray for me, a sinner.
A sermon on Forgiveness Sunday
by Fr. Andrew Lemeshonok
St. Elisabeth Convent, 2017
CONVERSATION