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In the name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Today we have heard the Gospel of Mathew (Ìt., V²:14-21), where God taught people and said: "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." Because if we forgive, we will get the forgiveness too. But if we can't forgive, we will not be forgiven too. As it is said in the main Christian prayer "Our Father in heaven": "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us." The God's justice is shown in it.
There are a lot of people, who says: "I will never forgive him." Did you see those cartoons, where it is told about one Ukrainian man, who was so offended that he did not want to forgive even when he was flying down in the hell? So if you do not forgive, you put on curse by yourself. This is the door, which will bring a person to the cancer. Yes? Unforgiveness is the life without God. Because God has forgiveness.
And let's say like this: there is no sin, which could exceed the God's mercy. But it doesn't mean that you should abuse God's Mercy and God's Love. From that Gospel we heard that prodigal son returned to his father, he wasted half of all property (Luke XV:11-32). But when he returned, his father kissed him and hugged him, because he returned to life, to the understanding that it was difficult to live without God in this world.
God is waiting from each of us that we will return to Him and no matter what the way we have chosen. Maybe, somebody walked away a little bit, but he changed his mind and returned to God to move in His direction. Some people, who live in Ukraine, do not dare come to God very close, especially if they are atheists, old communists and desperate materialists. They hate God; they hate all God's people. But there are a lot of God's people among them, who love and accept God subconsciously. Those communists, who think that they are materialists, just do not understand all that church stuff: candles, relics, awful energy, which is impossible to accept for the soul, which is looking for God. It doesn't want that.
And when we enter the Lent, we must keep the God's commandments: "Forgive and you will be forgiven." If we do not forgive, that means we keep the poison in our soul, which ruin it.
If you are worth something, you will be envied by that people, who worth nothing for God and who are far away from Him. They will try to take away your material property; they will try to attack you. Give them everything, because they, your relatives, will not leave you in peace, till the time you fill your soul with poison of offence.
Even your friends, who are not with God, could be dangerous, because devil can use them against you, against that people, who want to redeem. They can say some wrong words, can offend. Do not answer them in the same manner. The next day they will feel guilty, or will grow angrier. That one, who will be angrier, may go away. That one, who will feel guilty, should be forgiven and you should understand that it was not them who did you bad things. The evil spirit worked through them, they do not understand it, because they do not have God's protection.
Pray for you husbands, for your wives, whom you live with. Let God keep them in protection, that they could not hurt you in your back right in your house, when you are tired and want to relax. But do not forget: the closest people can hurt you the most. First of all you trust that person very much, this person knows a lot and can betray you even by this, because devil will tempt him all the time. It is clear that this person will be cursed, but your soul hurts much too because of this betrayal. And if you keep the offence in your heart, you are burning; you fall down, because the darkness can arise every moment and burn your soul.
There are a lot of offences in the world. The state government robs people very much, takes away from those, who have earned it and gives it to those, who did not earn. For example: the situation with credits. Do you see, what is happening? They take it. We see the injustice in every step, which increases, like the snow-slip. It is a pity, but sad prophesies come true, but there are good ones after that bad and we should come to them. We will have a lot of offences and blows during the life. And if we feel aggrieved, we will not pass even 3-4 years. And it is the time now when in 3-4 years
the God's power will rule this country and gradually all other countries of the world. Because Ukraine should be the example for all other countries, how to come out of all difficult situations.
So, now we must set our hopes on God, realize that God leads us, because He loves us. And in the other hand, We should forgive all life troubles, which we have since our childhood. Maybe, you were muddled and drilled by your parents in the childhood. Maybe, they hurt you even without a reason. And that is why your soul can be wounded. Maybe, you were betrayed by your friends, husbands, wives, who blown you so much and still keep knives in your backs. Maybe, they do it all the time.
But, maybe, the mistake was made by you, as these people are near you. You have committed that mistake that is why you are carrying this cross. Ask God: "Oh God, give me love and forgiveness, love and forgiveness." - Because you will not bring this cross to the end. Maybe, you were betrayed and cheated by you colleges at your work. Now, it is even cool to be betrayer, traitor. It is cool to trick, belie people and say: "It is your guilt that you believe us." So, devil has made it popular. He wants to have fun on people's homeliness, trust. And when you trust people, they cheat you, they hit you and it hurts you very much.
But you must forgive that all in your heart, forgive the country we live in. We have to ask God for love and forgiveness to all unjust things, which took place in our life. We have the only hope that we build exactly that, which we need for our soul, for our salvation. And it is what God wants the most; it consoles and makes us glad: we are here, we have found each other, we have found in God the Father.
You see how the circle becomes narrow around and against your pastor and against all of us. But you shouldn't be afraid of enemies. And now, first of all, to enter the Lent in calmness, in spiritual balance, ask God for forgiveness and love to all people, whom you communicate with, to life circumstances, to yourself. And during the fast you have to be ready for strong trials, through your relatives, because the evil power will work through them. You should not be afraid of it, be calm and ask God love and forgiveness. And your main prayer is: "Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal one, have mercy on us. God, help us." That is it. Do not come out of the spiritual balance. Let the dark power not push you out of the balance, as it can do. Because devil can only lie, broke and ruin people.
Now, we are entering the Lent. And when you return home call your relatives and friends. If you do not want to talk to them you can just forgive them in your heart. Say: "Forgive me for the first time. Forgive me for the second time. Forgive me for the third time." Because if he is an irreligious, atheist, and you call him with forgiveness, his evil angel will become angry even more. And you can just say in your heart: "Brother, forgive me for the first time, for the second, for the third." And if you ask forgiveness from the person, he must answer: "God forgives and I forgive, God forgives and I forgive, God forgives and I forgive."
Do you understand?
Let God bless us with His forgiveness and love. And we will ask your forgiveness together with all clergy. And you will come to each other and ask forgiveness. When you come for blessing and kiss the cross, ask like this: "Forgive me, father, for the first time, forgive for the second time, forgive for the third time."
Let God forgive and bless all of us.
Glory to Jesus Christ!
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Apostle (Romans, 13:11 - 14:2):
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11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for
you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we
first believed.
12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us
cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and
drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and
jealousy.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision
for the flesh, to gratify its desires
14
1 As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not
to quarrel over opinions.
2 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak
person eats only vegetables.
3 Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and
let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has
welcomed him.
4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It
is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld,
for the Lord is able to make him stand.
Gospel (Matthew, 6:14-21):
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14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly
Father will also forgive you,
15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither
will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16 "And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the
hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen
by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your
Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you
19"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where
moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
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