Sunday of Forgiveness (Cheesefare). Octoechos Tone 4. Martyr Blaise, Bishop of Sebastia (313-24).
Romans 13:11-14:4. Matthew 6:14-21.
Read Matthew 6:14-21
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
What if Jesus had reversed the order of what He said and instead said, “For where your heart is, there will your treasure be also?” Then we could easily say that our heart is really in the right place, even if it isn’t. We could say we have forgiven others, that that is where our heart is, even if we haven’t. We could say our heart is really in being seen by God instead of men when we fast, even if it isn’t.
Thankfully, our Lord doesn’t abandon us to the self-deceptiveness of the human mind. Our spiritual life is given objective substance in this physical world, making what is not hidden from God evident to others. Other people can see what we really treasure, no matter where we claim our heart is.
The person who asks our heavenly Father for forgiveness but does not forgive others is obviously laying up treasure of earth instead of heaven because, in not also wanting forgiveness for others, he is not wanting what God, who alone is eternal, wants. Eternal life is a gift derived from God “who desires all men to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:4).
The person who fasts to be seen by others is obviously laying up treasure on earth instead of heaven for the same reason. Those others, like the earth, “will pass away, but my words (and Jesus who spoke them) will not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
Anytime we need to regain our bearings spiritually, we have only to look at the objective evidence of our relationships with others. Are we asking for things that agree with the heart and mind of God? Are doing things that God will have with Himself in eternity? Pray to be able to see about ourselves what others see, and then listen.