The Most Uncomfortable Practice? | The Power of Mutual Forgiveness Before Lent

About this sermon

What is the most uncomfortable thing Orthodox Christians are called to do? Before Great Lent begins, the Church calls us to something radical — the Mutual Rite of Forgiveness. Many of us fast. Many change our diet. Many follow Lenten rules. But do we forgive? In this powerful reflection, we explore why forgiveness is not optional in Christianity — and why it stands at the very center of Lent. Drawing from the writings of Fr. Alexander Schmemann, this teaching explains: • Why Lent is NOT about food alone • Why fasting without love is useless • Why we must ask forgiveness even from those we do not “know” • The hidden sins of indifference and spiritual isolation • How Christ transforms alienation into brotherhood Christianity is not primarily about rules. It is about love. Before we can fast correctly, we must love correctly. Before we can repent, we must reconcile. Before we approach Pascha, we must forgive. As we bow before one another and say, “Forgive me,” it is Christ standing before us. This is the doorway to Great Lent. 0:00 – The Most Uncomfortable Orthodox Practice 0:25 – Why Mutual Forgiveness Feels Awkward 1:05 – Marriage Advice: Never Go to Bed Without Forgiveness 1:49 – What Is the Meaning of This Rite? 2:17 – Lent Is More Than Changing Your Diet 3:01 – The Danger of Hypocritical Fasting 3:26 – Christianity Is the Religion of Forgiveness 4:12 – “Why Should I Ask Forgiveness?” 4:46 – The Subtle Sins: Indifference & Selfishness 5:14 – Breaking the Wall Between Us 5:40 – Discovering a New Mode of Life: Love 6:18 – The One Word for Lent 6:48 – Seeing Christ in the Person Before You 7:31 – Final Exhortation: Be Transformed by Love For more please visit https://www.youtube.com/@steliasbrampton & say 3 Hail Marys for the priest 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶️ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶️ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.us for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶️ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 SpiritusTV - https://spiritustv.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 LBRY.tv --- https://lbry.tv/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 UGETube - https://videos.utahgunexchange.com/@Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 GabTV - https://tv.gab.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium ▶️ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ ▶️ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 Please "Like" our videos so that Youtube shares it to others by clicking the "Like" thumbs-up under the video = 👍🏻 ▶️ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. ▶️ 7. Follow on Social Media: 🔴 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SensusFidelium/ 🔴 Twitter: https://https://twitter.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 🔴 Parler: https://parler.com/profile/Sensusfidelium/posts 🔴 SP3RN: https://www.sp3rn.com/community/pages/14-sensus-fidelium 🔴 GAB: https://gab.com/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 Bastyon: https://bastyon.com/sensusfidelium 🔴 GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/sensus_fidelium 🔴 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sensusfidelium/ 🔴 Telegram: https//t.me/RealSensusFidelium ▶️ 8. Follow on iTunes: 🔴 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sensus-fidelium-catholic-podcast/id1477010758 #OrthodoxChristianity #GreatLent #ForgivenessSunday #EasternChristianity #ChristianForgiveness #OrthodoxFaith #PrepareForLent #SpiritualWarfare #ChristianLove #SensusFidelium

Topics

• Forgiveness