On forgiveness

When considering forgiveness, the emphasis is usually placed on the person asking for forgiveness. It is a venture of humility, knowing our place, recognizing our fault, acknowledging it with a promise to change and do better. This is often difficult as the obstacle of pride must be removed and not jumped over. Sometimes, we spend time attempting to jump over or go around an obstacle and then incur a sin of pride or vainglory in doing so. The obstacle must be removed, rooted out, or it will be there in the future. The moment of humility arrives, not when we are humiliated because we are embarrassed, straining, or physically and emotionally running low, but when we understand our reality in the moment and recognize God’s presence it. The next step is to reconcile with the person or persons we have hurt through an apology followed by actions.

Recently, a child asked me, “What happens when we ask forgiveness and the person refuses to forgive us?” Adults may have had this experience, but I felt even more compassion for this child. I also recognized hope for the Orthodox world in a child who knew his experience of being refused forgivesness was wrong.

Being in the position to offer forgiveness is powerful – not because we are powerful, but because God, who is all powerful, works through us. Anyone who has experienced God’s mercy knows this power of love. A contrary response to forgiveness is not of God and is based on pride. In fact, refusal of forgiveness is a refusal of God’s action and is from the evil one who seeks to accuse, divide, destroy and claim individual glory.

Followers

The posting setting has been changed as I do not think that I need review posts on this blog unless there is a problem. Also, since the purpose of this blog is to be an outreach of the Convent, to offer spiritual snippets and encourage thought and discussion, we can't imagine anything but a positive and Orthodox interaction.

Being a Christian - Saints Sergios and Bakkhos

Saints Sergios and Bakkhos were Christians, not only in name, but how they lived. Sometimes, in an initial introduction, when a person announces that he or she is a Christian, I wonder what is coming next. If a person's true identity is Christian, everything they say or do will be Christian, and an announcement would be an unnecessary redundancy. Saints Sergios and Bakkhos did not announce. In fact, they did not need to announce. Their actions spoke louder than words. How many times does a conversation come up at work in which we should not participate? Do our colleagues recognize that we do not gossip? Or do they approach us as someone who will surely listen to a juicy story and enter into the ritual of gossip?

Today's Saints were asked to participate in a pagan sacrifice. The term "pagan" is often defined as a non Abrahamic religion and is relegated to the realm of certain ritual and practices. In our Orthodox Christian perspective, we could expand our understanding to include all of the ritual and worship outside of Orthodoxy, non religious rituals or practices that occur all around us, many of them being sinful and leading us away from worship of the One, True God. How many pagan rituals do we recognize in the world around us? How many do we choose to participate in? Do we understand the difference between what is a healthy, balanced, normal or reasonable dose of food, interaction, entertainment, etc. and what is not?

While traveling, a commercial was airing about a woman who just saw a new Broadway type show. She said, "I loved it so much that I could see it again and again and again and again!" While there is nothing wrong with attending and enjoying a play, movie or other presentation, being consumed with it is a problem. When it takes the place of God, then life is an aimless disaster. The thought also occurred that many people will not go to Church because they think that Church is boring. Thus, they choose something that is less boring for them: sleep, soccer, TV, video games, internet, etc. Which ritual did this person choose? Which one will I choose? You?

Reflection on Saint Bassa

Today, amongst the saints, we honor the holy martyrs Bassa and her sons who died in 304. Bassa watched the torture of her sons and then was tortured herself by being thrown into the sea. Although she floated off to safety, she later met martyrdom by beheading at the hands of Maximian.

This morning during Matins I was struck by the courage of this holy woman. While her sons were "triumphing with youthful bravery...[and] manfully overcame the opposition of adversaries," [Menaion, 8th Ode] Bassa was making a stand of her own "like a fruitful olive tree, like a prolific vine...sending forth branches, with whom [she] cultivated clusters of confession and gushed forth the wine of martyrdom." [Ode 8]

Many times in Orthodox accounts, we hear that women have triumphed because they were "manly." This morning was no different: "O blessed and all laudable Bassa, you manfully barest bodily sufferings." [Ode 9] I know that such language bothers many. This reference, found in many accounts, comes from the Latin word for strength, virtus, the root being vir or man. I think of it as the type of strength for which a man is known: physical, brute strength. This does not mean that women do not have brute strength. Some do and I applaud them. Many of us do not. This also does not mean that women lack a characteristic strength, but there are no references of martyrs being "womanly" in their struggles. Unfortunately, the mention of "womanly" usually bears a negative connotation. Let's change that!

Saint Bassa was womanly in her martyrdom when she made her stand"like a fruitful olive tree..." The texts include that she eagerly moved from torture to torture. For me, this underlined her strength as a woman and mother. She was not sickly seeking to view torture, but to be present for her sons and to rejoice with them in their crowns of martyrdom. Like the Theotokos, who was womanly in standing by her Son and having her heart "pierced by a sword," so was Saint Bassa pierced, first by the trials her sons endured and then her own. Mothers would agree that the first would be worst than latter, and that there is no greater pain than life from the womb being taken away.

"Like a sweet voiced songbird singing in the grove of the beautiful pains and contests of martyrdom did you call to yourself your well favored fledglings; ... And with them, O Bassa, you have made a dwelling in the heavenly nests above, interceding for all of us at all times, O all blessed one." [Vespers, Lord I have cried stichera]

Coming Soon!

A new Orthodox monastery for women in Pennsylvania! Watch for information about the Convent of Saint Thekla. We invite you to learn about us, our prayer and work.

Pray for us as we do for you!