Cheesefare Sunday The Sunday of Forgiveness

Ambon Prayer 11

The Holy Martyr Blaise, Bishop of Sebaste

Title

The Freedom of the Great Fast

A Freedom of Forgiveness

Outline

Cheesefare Sunday is the edge of a cliff

On the one hand, in the Great Fast we jump into the arms of God

We wake from sleep

We realize that our salvation is nearer than when we believed

We realize that the day is at hand however many this-world days may precede it.

In other words, it means that we realize that Jesus not only died but is resurrected and reigning and that our identification with him in baptism means that we have died to this world and are starting to live in the world of his reign, in divinization.

On the other hand, the Great Fast calls us to live that way now

Cast off the works of darkness: “reveling and drunkenness, . . . debauchery and licentiousness, . . . quarreling and jealousy.” And in passing judgment on another in things scripture does not speak to.

Thus our fasting is part “no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires,” taking control of our desires. And in part, “putting on the armor of light” or “putting on the Lord Jesus Christ,” i.e. living like and in identity with him. You do not find him disputing over food, over eating or abstaining.

Concretely this means in general focusing on three areas

First on forgiving others knowing that as we become like Jesus in this we will be forgiven. It helps to do an examination of conscience to realize how much we have been forgiven. Forgiveness is not saying that something evil is OK or does not matter, but handing over the evil and pain to Jesus to deal with as he wishes.

Second, on controlling our appetites (and yours may not be for food but for some other material good). But do it for God and before God, which means living out of the freedom God has given you rather than “I have to or God will be mad.” We discover our freedom in Christ, who never complained about his physical conditions, for his Father cared for him.

Third, putting the brakes on our collecting and storing, our means of this-age security and status. What this means concretely for each of us we need to work out with God having read what Jesus says about mammon, material goods, including money. The problem is that if this is where our security lies then that is where our heart lies and it will be weighed down with worry. If we place our security in God and find our status in being his sons and daughters then our hearts will be increasingly one with Jesus and we will live in joy rather than worry. But first there may be “stuff” we need to get rid of in order to be free.

The Great Fast is not a sad time but an exercise in freedom

Yes, there is sadness when we face our shortcomings. And, yes, breaking with some aspect of our lifestyle that is “too much of a good thing” and discovering the simplicity that an Anthony of the Desert (or any one of a number of saints) found may be painful at first.

But, it is the stripping down of the athlete before a race with Jesus on the podium already holding a medal for him if he prepares and runs faithfully. It is the soldier tossing away items that will not be helpful in battle and putting on Jesus armor that he knows will bring him through to victory - and perhaps slimming down and exercising so he will fit in the armor and be strong enough to use it. The joy of victory is already in the preparation.

May we experience this freedom in our experience of the Great Fast, the freedom of forgiveness, the freedom of trusting only in Christ, the freedom identity with him, and the promise of his ultimate word to us, “Well done!”