Forgiveness Before the Cross: The Christian Duty to Repent and Reconcile
Beloved brethren in Christ, as we stand on the threshold of Great Lent, preparing our souls for the journey toward the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord, the Church in Her wisdom presents us with the Gospel command to forgive. The words of Our Lord in today’s Gospel from St. Matthew (6:14-21) are unambiguous: “For if you will forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will forgive you also. But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences.” This is not a suggestion – it is a divine command, given to us as an unshakable condition for our own salvation.
Yet, in an age of betrayal, apostasy, and suffering, what does true forgiveness look like? Does it mean blind acceptance of evil? Does it mean abandoning justice? Or does it mean standing before the Cross, imitating the humility of Christ, and seeking reconciliation on God’s terms, rather than the world’s? Let us examine what forgiveness truly entails.
I. The Cross as the Foundation of Forgiveness
Forgiveness is not an abstract concept; it is a reality grounded in the Cross of Christ. The world speaks of forgiveness in sentimental terms, reducing it to emotional release or psychological well-being. But Christian forgiveness is not a mere feeling – it is an act of the will, a participation in the sacrificial love of Christ.
As Our Lord hung upon the Cross, unjustly condemned, He uttered those terrible yet merciful words: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Here we see the true nature of forgiveness – not a cheap pardon, but a costly, blood-drenched intercession before the Father. Christ forgave, but He did not excuse sin. He did not pretend that the betrayal of Judas, the cowardice of Pilate, or the malice of the Sanhedrin were acceptable. Rather, He forgave while simultaneously calling all to repentance.
Thus, for us, to forgive does not mean to ignore evil, nor does it mean to tolerate falsehood. Rather, it means entrusting justice to God while maintaining a heart open to reconciliation when the sinner repents.
II. The Modern Misuse of Forgiveness: The False Mercy of the World
In our days, we see a perversion of forgiveness that is entirely foreign to the Gospel. This is the so-called “mercy” that demands we remain silent in the face of apostasy, that we compromise with the enemies of Christ in the name of “peace.” This is the false forgiveness of those who embrace the betrayers of the Faith, indeed even the sworn enemies of Christ and of truth, without calling them to repentance.
The world demands that we forgive without conversion, that we accept error as equal to truth. Yet what does the Gospel say? Christ did not embrace the Pharisees in their hypocrisy. He did not tell the woman caught in adultery to continue in her sin – He forgave her with the command: “Go, and sin no more” (John 8:11).
We must, therefore, distinguish between true Christian forgiveness and the counterfeit offered by the world. The Church has always been ready to forgive sinners, but never to affirm them in their sins.
III. The Duty of Repentance in Forgiveness
If forgiveness is a requirement for salvation, then repentance is its necessary counterpart. One cannot be reconciled to God while clinging to sin, just as one cannot be reconciled to one’s brethren without acknowledging one’s faults.
Too often, people demand forgiveness without any desire for conversion. But true forgiveness requires an acknowledgment of wrongdoing. Without repentance, reconciliation is hollow. But while acknowledging this, let us not be so quick to look at others!
Today we are most especially called to look at ourselves. This means examining our own hearts. Are we withholding forgiveness from those who have wronged us, not out of righteous concern for truth, but out of personal pride? Do we demand apologies from others while refusing to humble ourselves? Forgiveness and repentance must go hand in hand, and we must be prepared to extend the same mercy we hope to receive.
IV. Reconciliation Before the Judgment Seat
Christ’s warning is clear: if we do not forgive, neither shall we be forgiven. When we stand before the Judgment Seat, what shall we say when the Lord asks us whether we forgave our brother? Shall we have to confess that we harbored resentment, that we sought vengeance instead of justice, that we closed our hearts? The unforgiving man condemns himself, for he asks God for a mercy he refused to show to others.
This is why the Church gives us this Sunday of Forgiveness before we enter the Great Fast. Our Lord enjoins us in today’s Gospel: “But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head, and wash thy face.” And so just as we cleanse our bodies before the fast, we must cleanse our souls from grudges and bitterness.
It has been said that to hold onto unforgiveness is to drink poison and expect the other person to die. It withers the soul and bars us from the grace of God. We are reminded today that just as we are instruments of God’s grace in this world, we also must be stewards of the forgiveness that Christ won for us on the Cross.
Conclusion: Forgiveness as the Path to the Resurrection
Beloved in Christ, let us not be deceived by the empty promises of the world, which speaks of forgiveness without justice, reconciliation without truth, and unity without doctrine. Let us forgive as Christ forgives: with open hands, but never with a closed conscience. Let us reconcile where reconciliation is possible, but never at the expense of the truth.
Today, as we prepare to enter the Great Fast, let us stand before the Cross. Let us confess our sins, let us forgive those who have trespassed against us, and let us seek to be reconciled – not according to the world’s ways, but according to the justice and mercy of God.
May forgiveness never be held as a sign of weakness, but of strength. May it not be an endorsement of sin, but a call to repentance. And may we, on the glorious day of Pascha, find ourselves forgiven, because we have forgiven others.
To Christ our true God, Who forgives and calls us to forgive, be all glory, honor, and worship, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
2 March 2025