Blessed Forgiveness Sunday and approaching Great Lent to all brothers and sisters!
May God forgive us all!
Forgive me and I also forgive you!
Sermon on Cheesefare Sunday. Conditions for entering the Holy Forty Days.
St Ignatius Brianchaninov (+1867)☦️
Beloved brethren! We have already reached the very gates of holy Lent! They are already ready to open before us! According to the ordinances of the Holy Church, the instruction of Our Lord Jesus Christ on how to properly enter into the feat of Lent has already been read to us today in the Holy Gospel.
"If you forgive men their trespasses ," proclaims the Gospel teaching read today, " your heavenly Father will also forgive yours. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" ( Matthew 6:14-15 ). With this news the Holy Church greets us at the gates of Lent! This is the condition she offers us at the very threshold of the spiritual chamber of repentance. We intend to prove our repentance for various sinful infatuations with various deprivations and physical hardships: the Gospel demands of us mercy before sacrifice, so that the sacrifice will be pleasing to God.
All who wish to begin the feat of fasting and prayer, all who wish to reap the abundant fruits of their repentance! Hear the word of God, hear the covenant of God, and forgive, forgive your neighbors their sins against you. "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses ." Amen.
Source: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Ignatij_Brjanchaninov/asketicheskaya_propoved/10