Day 8: Forgiveness Sunday

Sunday of Forgiveness.  Cheesefare Sunday.  It is the day that we ask for forgiveness for all we have done and all we have said.  We ask this of everyone we know.  We ask our family, friends, and acquaintances, but we also have to ask God.  How can we do that?   Well, one way is through the fasting we are taking on right now, and for the next seven weeks.

Today is the last day that we will eat any dairy products (cheese, milk, butter...).  By our giving up so many things, we can focus on God and prayer and ask for forgiveness.  When we do this with our friends, family, or loved ones, this can be very emotional experience.

It is a way to take on a new beginning with people, with God, and with out spiritual lives.  It's humbling, I tell you,  and we humble our souls by doing this so we are ready to accept Christ at His Resurrection.  This takes us right into Clean Monday, when we are forgiven, our hearts are clean, and we approach Pascha with clean hearts and clean minds.

If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you your trespasses (Matthew 6:14).