In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Beloved in Christ, today we stand at the threshold of Great Lent, on this Sunday of Forgiveness, where the Holy Church reminds us of Adam’s exile from Paradise. Why does the Church place this remembrance here? St John of Damascus tells us: “We must remember from where we have fallen before we can understand where we may rise.”
Let me share a story that illuminates this mystery. In a small village in Northumberland, two brothers hadn’t spoken for twenty years. Their father’s will had divided them, and pride had built a wall between their houses. Each Sunday they would stand at opposite ends of the church, neither approaching for Holy Communion, their unforgiveness a visible wound in the parish. Then one Forgiveness Sunday, the younger brother’s child became gravely ill. His older brother, hearing the news, did something remarkable. During the Forgiveness Vespers, he crossed the church – just as our Father crosses the distance to meet us – and made a full prostration before his brother. “Forgive me,” he said, “for killing our father’s joy.”
St Mary of Egypt, whose life we will contemplate during the Fast, teaches us that true repentance begins with such recognition – seeing how our sins wound not only ourselves but the whole human family. St Ephrem the Syrian writes: “When Adam was exiled, he sat outside Paradise and wept. So too must we weep for our exile from God’s nearness.”
The Church wisely places this Sunday here because, as St Symeon the New Theologian explains: “We cannot begin the spiritual journey while carrying the weight of unforgiveness.” This is why we perform the remarkable rite of mutual forgiveness today. St John Chrysostom observes: “It is not enough to fast from food; we must fast from holding grudges.”
Consider how Adam’s exile begins – with blame. He points to Eve, Eve points to the serpent, and in their accusations, they move further from the possibility of restoration. St Gregory Palamas notes: “The first step back to Paradise is taking responsibility for our own sins without accusing others.”
The Gospel today speaks of forgiveness with striking clarity: “If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” St Isaac the Syrian explains this connection: “Show mercy to all, for in showing mercy to others, you show mercy to Christ Himself.”
But why begin Lent with this theme? St Theodore the Studite answers: “Fasting without forgiveness is not fasting but mere hunger.” The Church in her wisdom knows that reconciliation must precede ascetic labour. As St Silouan the Athonite teaches: “Keep your mind in hell and despair not” – meaning we must face the full reality of our fallen state while trusting in God’s unfailing mercy.
Today’s remembrance of Adam’s exile carries profound hope. St Irenaeus reminds us that Christ became what we are so that we might become what He is. Our exile is not permanent unless we make it so through unforgiveness. This is why the Church gives us this Sunday as a door into Lent – because through forgiveness, we begin to restore the image of Paradise within our hearts.
The Fathers tell us that when Adam sat outside Paradise, he could still smell the flowers of Eden. So too, in our exile, the Church offers us the scent of God’s kingdom through mutual forgiveness. Every prostration we make today, asking “Forgive me, brother, sister,” is a step back toward Paradise.
Let us therefore begin this Great Lent with empty hands and full hearts. Empty of grievances, full of mercy. For as St John of Kronstadt teaches: “To forgive is to unlock Paradise not only for another, but for ourselves.”
As we prepare to ask forgiveness of each other, remember – this is not mere custom but the very path Christ showed us from the Cross: “Father, forgive them.” Each prostration we make is an echo of His love, each reconciliation a foretaste of Paradise regained.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Copyright © 2025 The Rev. Adrian Augustus. The Russian Orthodox Church of the Archangel Michael, Blacktown, NSW
