Today*, I looked at each member of my church and asked his or her forgiveness. As we enter into Lent, the Orthodox Church reminds us that we have all sinned against those in our lives and that as we begin our Lenten journey, where we turn our focus inward – where have I failed.

As Father Alexander Schmemann reminds us in his book “Great Lent”

What is the meaning of this rite? Why is it that the Church wants us
to begin Lenten season with forgiveness and reconciliation? These
questions are in order because for too many people Lent means
primarily, and almost exclusively, a change of diet, the compliance
with ecclesiastical regulations concerning fasting. They understand
fasting as an end in itself, as a "good deed" required by God and
carrying in itself its merit and its reward. But, the Church spares
no effort in revealing to us that fasting is but a means, one among
many, towards a higher goal: the spiritual renewal of man, his return
to God, true repentance and, therefore, true reconciliation. The
Church spares no effort in warning us against a hypocritical and
pharisaic fasting, against the reduction of religion to mere external
obligations. As a Lenten hymn says:

In vain do you rejoice in no eating, O soul!
For you abstain from food,
But from passions you are not purified.
If you persevere in sin, you will perform a useless fast.

Now, forgiveness stands at the very center of Christian faith and of
Christian life because Christianity itself is, above all, the
religion of forgiveness. God forgives us, and His forgiveness is in
Christ, His Son, Whom He sends to us, so that by sharing in His
humanity we may share in His love and be truly reconciled with God.
Indeed, Christianity has no other content but love. And it is
primarily the renewal of that love, a return to it, a growth in it,
that we seek in Great Lent, in fasting and prayer, in the entire
spirit and the entire effort of that season. Thus, truly forgiveness
is both the beginning of, and the proper condition for the Lenten
season.

In a beautiful reminder of why we are doing this rite, we sing the Paschal hymns. It’s a reminder of where we are going with our Lent, as well as a reminder that sometimes people will die before getting to that bright, joyful night.

I want to take this time to look into the eyes of each of my Blog readers and sincerely ask your forgiveness for the sins I have committed in thought, word or deed against you.

(Originally posted March 5, 2006) *Actually, yesterday - it is Forgiveness Vespers, which we had yesterday, Sunday afternoon.