If someone were to ask you what the most important service in the Orthodox Chruch is, what would you say?
Would you mention Pascha? Or, perhaps, one of the Holy Week services? Maybe, you’d say the most important service is your baptism because it’s your entrance into church?
All of those are good answers, but, for me, I think the most important service of the Orthodox Church is a small service we’ll do at the conclusion of Divine Liturgy this Sunday: Forgiveness Vespers.
Some of you may not have heard of this service … others may try to avoid it. But, if we are to take our Christian walk seriously, this is a service not to be missed. And, it’s especially important to be in our own community for this service.
So, what’s it all about?
Well, the vespers service, as you all know, is the evening service of the Orthodox Church. Vespers has some of the most beautiful hymns of our church including the oldest Christian hymn outside the New Testament.
At the end of this particular vespers, we do something called the “Rite of Forgiveness.” During this part, we go around and ask forgiveness of everyone in our community and extend forgiveness to everyone, face-to-face.
This can be very intimidating … but I’ve also seen how liberating it is. I’ve seen people who have held grudges against each other break down and tears and start talking to each other for the first time in years.
I’ve seen how the power of forgiveness can lift a burden and give hope to people who previously had none.
By asking for and extending forgiveness we are fulfilling the very core of the gospel message.
Forgiveness and the Gospel
Every day, in our daily prayers, we pray the Our Father which contains this line: ” … and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us … “
If you stop and think about it, this is a very scary line. But it also means we are empowered to be the agents of our own forgiveness. By forgiving others, we are, in essence, forgiving ourselves.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus expands on this idea.
“For, if you forgive men their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; But if you should not forgive men, neither shall your Father forgive your offenses.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
Jesus calls us to store up the “treasure” of forgiveness in our lives.
“Do not store up treasures for yourself on the earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves penetrate by digging and steal; Rather, store up for yourself treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves neither penetrate by digging nor steal; For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
This Sunday, we’re going to the bank with Forgiveness Sunday. By asking for and giving forgiveness, we will be starting Lent off on the right foot and we’re being storing up treasures in heaven that are beyond our wildest imaginations.
Don’t Skip Forgiveness Vespers
This is why this service is so important: it shows us the essence of the gospel message and calls us to put our faith into action.
In this service, the rubber meets the road. And, this is why the priest who chrismated me said that this service was not optional. It is essential for each of us if we are to approach Pascha with a cleansed heart.