Our Venerable Father Maximus the Confessor.
Dormition Fast. Leave-taking of the Transfiguration.
2 Corinthians 7:1-10; Mark 1:29-35.
Read 2 Corinthians 7:1-10
A friend from the Coptic Orthodox Church once described a liturgical practice that happens just before the Great Entry in the Divine Liturgy where the gifts from the side table are brought to the altar for their consecration. The priests turns to the faithful and says, “forgive me my brothers and sisters of my sinfulness and have mercy on me.” The faithful would then respond, “It is I Father that am in need of forgiveness; forgive me Father and have mercy on me the sinner.”
In his second letter to the Corinthians, in today’s reading, St Paul say, “we have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one…” in one breath then in the next breath he says, “For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it (though I did regret it, for I see that I grieved you with that letter, though only briefly)” Evidently, whatever Paul said and did created “hurt” and “grievances” in some and he understood this as acceptable and good because, “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret…”
That is the spirit behind and within the Coptic ritual as described earlier. This mutual request for and granting of forgiveness also happens every Cheeses Fare Sunday/Forgiveness Sunday that takes place the evening before the Monday of the first day of the Great Fast. This practice of mutual asking for and granting forgiveness is evident of a spiritual life that is on the path of maturity and holiness. It is that which needs to be drawn upon daily and often many times per day. It is the root for understanding Jesus’ words where he commands us to “love our enemies” and forgiving “seventy times seven;” it’s is thoroughly engrained in the words Jesus spoke, “if you do not forgive your brother from your heart neither will your Father in heaven forgive you” along with his words spoken from the cross when He said, “forgive them Father for they know not what they do.”
So, the next time when you feel you might have been wronged, take note that the causing of hurt and grievances are very high in your efforts to defend yourself, and the spirit of you doing so could be very sinful! Wisdom comes from the Theotokos, Blessed Virgin Mary who held and pondered all in her heart so her every response was out of love that converted hearts to love her Son.
Go with God!