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Fr George's Letter

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Written by: Fr George

FORGIVENESS. 

“The virtues build a new person radiating love to the world.”

(Metropolitan Paul (Yazigi) of Aleppo who consecrated our temple.)  

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

                                                                                                    (Hebrews 4:15-16)

 

THE DORMITION OF THE MOST HOLY MOTHER OF GOD. 

SUNDAY 16^th AUGUST. Afterfeast of the Dormition. Translation of the Icon, Not made by hands, of Our Lord Jesus Christ from Edessa to Constantinople (944). Martyr Diomedes the Physician of Tarsus in Cilicia (298). St. Chaeremon of Egypt (4^th). St.Stephen of Hungary (1038). St. Gerasimus, Wonderworker of Cephalonia (1579). St. Timothy of Evripos, Founder of Penteli Monastery (1590). Martyrs Prince Constantine, his four sons Constantine, Stephen, Radu & Matthew, & their companion Ianache (Romania 1714).

 

“The Lord is not like us. He is passing meek, and merciful, and good; and when the soul knows Him she marvels greatly and exclaims: ‘O what a Lord is ours!’

The sinful soul which does not know the Lord fears death, thinking that the Lord will not forgive her her sins. But this is because the soul does not know the Lord and how greatly He loves us. But if people knew this, then no man would despair in his heart, for the Lord not only forgives but rejoices exceedingly at the return of a sinner. Though you be at death’s door believe firmly that the moment you ask you will receive forgiveness.” (St. Silouan the Athonite)

 

“As the Searcher of hearts, the Lord knows that men are liable to very frequent trespasses, and that, having fallen, they often rise up again; therefore He has given us the commandment to frequently forgive trespasses, and He Himself is the first to fulfill His holy word. As soon as you say from your own heart, ‘I repent,’ you will be immediately forgiven.” (St. John of Kronstadt) 

 

TODAY’S GOSPEL. Matthew 18:23-35. “”Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as He was unable to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’  So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.””  

 

The words, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34), spoken by Christ from the Cross, is the ultimate expression of forgiveness. The forgiveness of God is boundless for those, who like the Roman soldiers and those who colluded in His arrest, were ignorant of who He was. For us who try to follow Him, we are told in the Gospel that we are to forgive from our heart. It is so easy to say ‘forgive me’ when what we are actually doing is making an excuse to get ourselves out of an awkward situation. To be truly sorry and to forgive, words are not enough. We must learn to forgive as Christ teaches us, not to hold grudges but to let them go. By forgiving from our hearts, however much we have been hurt, we are learning to begin to know the love of God. We are called to be like Him and turn away from our fallen human nature. It is not always easy when we look at the world with its despots, corrupters of people’s minds and hearts, hatred of those who are different from us and the peddled notion of a nation’s mythical great past that never was. 

True forgiveness is an expression of true love, a love that we learn from God. It is this love that guides us even from the Cross. If we forgive, we love, if we do not then Jesus tells us that our Father, like the king in the Gospel, will not be pleased. We have no excuse because when we come to church we are coming to meet Him with joy, to share in His love, to receive His very Body and Blood and to hold no enmity against anyone; we are called to be saints. The saints that have gone before us, surround us, together with holy angels of God, we are blessed. Let our forgiveness be genuine that our hearts overflow with love that spreads the warmth that is God.

 

 

On Saturday 15^th August we celebrate the Feast of the Dormition (Falling Asleep) of the Most Holy Mother of God. We have the Blessed Mother as an example to us all. The Apostles came from wherever they were to be at her deathbed. In the icon of the feast we see Christ holding the Blessed Virgin in His arms as a little child to be with Him in heaven and remember His words when speaking of little children, “For of such is the kingdom of heaven.” 

 

                                                                                          Much Love, 

 

                                                                                          Fr. George.