Tag Archive for: Forgiveness

The Bonds of Sisterhood

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Armodoxy for Today: Sacred Bond of Sisterhood

The remembrance of saints is an important and essential part of Armenian Church Tradition. Saints are not God or gods, far from it. They are people – flesh and blood, like you and me, with the freedom to exercise their will according to their conscience. They are the ones who opt for the difficult path of life with faith. We commemorate them because as humans, with all the frailties that come with being human, they demonstrated godly expressions of living.

Saints days are interspersed on the calendar throughout the year. Today, the Armenian Church remembers St. Peprone (or Phebronia), Mariana, and Shoushan, the daughter of Vartan the Great. Each of these saints has a story in which they rose from their human condition and demonstrated an extra ordinary love for God and people.

In remembering the saintly stories from yesteryears, we can’t ignore the stories of today. A few days ago, at a nationally televised funeral of Charlie Kirk, his wife, Erika in reflecting on their life together and the faith they shared, went on to forgive her husband’s assassin.

In tears she said, “…on the cross, our Savior said, “I forgive them for they know not what they do.” That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him for they know not what they do. I forgive him because it was what Christ did and is what Charlie would do. The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the Gospel is love and always love. Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.”

In a country that is divided, in an atmosphere of volitivity, amid the incomprehensible acts of violence, and against the backdrop of an ignored genocide on the other side of the globe, these words were a welcome and needed expression for the world. If only we have ears to hear.

For all we do and say at Epostle, and for every sermon and advice I have given, had I not remembered this small expression from this weekend, the saints and lives of the past would not shine.

Forgiveness. It is the hallmark of Christianity. It is the higher and divine grace that saves us from our past and from ourselves. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Amen.

As we Forgive -8of10

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Armodoxy for Today: 10x One Minutes on the Lord’s Prayer, Part 8 -As we Forgive Others

The one request in the Lord’s Prayer that is conditional is in regard to forgiveness. Forgiveness is granted by God, Jesus tell us, on the same standard by which we forgive those who trespass against us. As we learned in yesterday’s message, the measure and degree of forgiveness for us is dependent on our ability to forgive others. So great is this one provision and the understanding of forgiveness, that Jesus spells it out very plainly at the end of the prayer.

Not quite an addendum to the prayer, rather as an elucidation of the concept that is central to Jesus’ teaching – that God works through us. He says, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14-15)

Forgiveness is the Christian mandate. Today’s one minute for Summertime.

Forgive our Debts -7of10

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Armodoxy for Today: 10x One Minutes on the Lord’s Prayer, Part 7- Forgive us our debts

Trespasses, debts, we’ve heard both these words used in the English translation of the Lord’s Prayer. Whether it is something you owe, such as a debt, or something you’ve violated, we ask to be forgiven of our debts and our trespasses. It is the one statement in the prayer that is conditional. We ask God to forgive us our sin by the weight and measure by which we forgive others. “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” If I forgive my debtor only half of his or her debt, I can be assured to be forgiven half of my debt. Understood this way, we come to understand that our forgiveness, our being cleaned of debt, is completely in our hands. Very clearly, Jesus is guaranteeing us a clean slate, complete and total forgiveness of sin, to the point that you do not have to second guess it. Whatever is hanging around your neck is released, provided, you release the debt of those who owe you.

Like all of Christianity, we are called to responsibility through our actions.

Today’s one minute on the Lord’s Prayer, for Summertime.

7×77, Really?

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Armodoxy for Today: That many times, really?

July 7 is a very special day for us at Epostle.net. It was on July 7, 2007 that we organized the first-ever forgiveness day international conference, under the In His Shoes banner, featuring speakers from Rwanda, Armenia and Mexico, events, discussions with scholars and produced a human chain of sevens. The day was numerically written as 7/7/7 which corresponded to Jesus’ answer to Peter’s question, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”

“I say to you, not seven times,” answered Jesus, “But, until seventy-seven times seven.” (Matthew 18:21-22)

Certainly, the numbers are irrelevant. That is, 7×77 is not to be worked out at 539, but as a code for countless. Jesus puts it out as the Christian imperative: Forgive, without limits. Further, he assures us that our Father in Heaven forgives us our trespasses, by the same scale that we forgive those who trespass against us.

Forgiveness is the hallmark and calling card of Christianity. It is central to understanding the power of Jesus’ message for peace and harmony in the world.

It doesn’t escape us that this year, the numbers once again line-up as 7/7/25, the sum of the 2-5 are yet another seven. It is merely a pointer, a way of remembering that our only hope – whether for individual relationships, or to achieve global harmony – our only hope is through this ultimate weapon of love.

Today’s one-minute for Summertime.

If you’d like to learn more about the international conference on forgiveness? Visit the links below.

https://epostle.net/peace-spiral and at https://epostle.net/7×77

Post Easter: Peter On Board

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Armodoxy for Today: Reinstatement of Peter

As part of the Passion narratives, most everyone knows that Simon Peter denied Jesus three times. At the most critical time, as Jesus is being tried, convicted and sentenced to death, Peter, his close friend and disciple, denies that he knows Jesus. Few may know that, after the Resurrection, Peter had an opportunity to show his remorse by expressing his love for the Lord. In the Gospel of John (21) we follow a dialogue between Jesus and his disciple, Simon Peter:

 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”

He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”

He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”

And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.  

Some refer to this episode as the Reinstatement of Peter, that is, he denied Jesus thrice and now he acknowledges his love thrice, and the sheep metaphor referring to his pastoral position within the Church.  We call it forgiveness, pure and simple, in a manner that only God can give and only God can understand.

Jesus was about forgiveness. The message of forgiveness was taught with words and then he demonstrated the same from the Cross and after the Resurrection when he forgave his friend Peter. Often in life, we hear about horrendous acts committed by people, but their forgiveness is between them and God.

Let us pray, Searcher of secrets, I have sinned against you, willingly and inadvertently, knowingly and unknowingly. Grant forgiveness unto me a sinner; since from my birth through the holy baptism, until this day, I have sinned before you Lord, with all my senses and in all the members of my body. Have mercy upon your creatures, and on me, a sinner. Amen.

Cover Photo: Epostle 2025

Applying the Father – Day 17 of 40

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Armodoxy for Today: Applying the Father – Day 17 of Lent

We continue learning from the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15) and today, continue on the character of the father. Yesterday we spoke of him as expression of the love of our Heavenly Father. Today, we understand the importance of this Lenten Season as we apply the father’s love to our lives.

The Prodigal’s father’s actions tell us what is required of us in our relationships, not necessarily with children, but with one another. There are people who have hurt us. The degrees of hurt are not consequential. Perhaps we have cried over a misspoken word, or we have been devastated by betrayal. The hurt has left a chasm in our relationships with others. We have all created divisions between ourselves and God by virtue of our actions or inaction,  yet God has given us a way back. We too must do the same and leave doors open for those people to return back to us. In other words, an end to grudges is in order. Don’t get caught up in foolish pride. Leave doors open without expecting someone to walk through. Don’t wait for those who have hurt you to return, just know that deep down there are many desires that may not be understood. If the door is open, they may return and when they do you must and will embrace them.

The heart is speaking to you. Do not think with your mind. Be ready to take in. Be ready to embrace, to hug, to suffocate them with the love that is in your heart. This is the example that Jesus gives us through the character of the father in the Parable. On the one hand it is showing us what our Heavenly Father does, and the example for us to do likewise to those in our lives. On the other hand we have prayed, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us.” God forgives us. We, therefore, have to be forgiving of others.

Your act of charity today is to open doors you have shut. Fast from locks that keep doors shut and relationships from continuing.

On the Lenten menu today is Asian Noodles with Edamame

Let us pray, from St. Gregory of Narek (12) [Lord] Inscribe your name on the skylight of my abode. Cover the roof of my temple with your hand. Mark the threshold of my cell with your blood. Imprint the outside of my door with your sign. Protect the mat where I rest with your right hand. Amen. (Translated by Thomas J. Samuelian)

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 17: Asian Noodles with Edamame

Cover Photo: Gregory & Luna Beylerian 2023

Patiently Waiting – Day 16 of 40

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Armodoxy for Today: Patiently Waiting – Day 16 of Lent

Continuing on the Parable of the Prodigal Son, today we look at the character of the father, who waits steadfastly for his child’s return home.

We first learn that the father gives without restriction or condition. His son says, “Give me my inheritance so I can go out and establish and begin my life.” The father, being a wise man, certainly understands that the son may lose or squander the money but does not argue with his child. He lets go. Even though he knows better, he also accepts that the child’s life is his to live. Yes, making mistakes can be painful, but it is by those mistakes that children learn.

The second time we see the father is when the son returns. Remember the son is remorseful, or at the very least he understands that he can have a better life by returning to his father’s house. No matter what the son’s intentions may be, the father seeing the son on the road back home, runs out to meet him on the road and does not even allow his son to ask forgiveness. He does not play a game of pride. He does not foolishly say, “Let me wait and see what he has to say.” He is there to accept his son. He does not say, “I told you so. I knew you would be back.”  Instead he recognizes his loved one – the son that he cared for, gave birth to and nurtured – had now returned! How excited he must be. Of course, he comes running up to his son and embraces him.

The father in the parable is an expression of our Heavenly Father. Jesus gives us a glimpse of the unconditional love of God. God in heaven waits for us to come home and when we do turn back, He does not wait for us to beg to return to His Kingdom. He is patiently waits for us to make that first turn-around. It’s then that He approaches us, embracing us fully. He takes us in, giving us Life! God accepts us as true children of his Kingdom. His acceptance of us is a given. The requirement is for us to say, “Yes, I have sinned. I have gone the wrong way. I have squandered what God has given me. I want to find peace. I want to find that love that God has created me in.” God waits for us to say, “I’m ready,” after which it all falls into place.

Your act of charity today is in the spirit of the Prodigal’s father, accept those who have wandered away. Are they looking for a way to come back and ask how open are you to forgive? Fast, today, from all that prevents you from opening the door to your heart.

Today’s recipe is Cherry Walnut chews, the recipe is linked below.

We pray, from St. Gregory of Narek, (33) O Lord, prepare for us honorable lodgings, for the partaking of your heavenly lamb, that we might eat life-giving manna of the new salvation and escape the punishments of condemnation. May our blasphemy be purified in the refiner’s fire, as the prophet told of the live coal in the tongs of offering at the altar, so that your mercy is proclaimed in all things as the lovingkindness of the Father, who embraced the prodigal son with fatherly inheritance, and led the prostitute to the bliss of the heavenly kingdom, was proclaimed by the Son of God. Amen. (Translated by Thomas J. Samuelian)

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 16: Cherry Walnut Chews

Try the Phone – Day 4 of 40

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Armodoxy for Today: Try the phone – Day 4

Your phone is acting up. You’re trying to run an app and it’s not responding. Press on it and nothing. No response. You remember that earlier it was running painstakingly slowly. You are frustrated and adding to your frustration is the fact that you can’t get off the screen! Swipe, push, you’re ready to tap it on the table, as you would do to old mechanical devices if they malfunctioned, but you’re not ready to risk cracking the screen. Should you call tech support? Well, you would except that your phone is locked up and you can’t make a call. You open your laptop to Google a fix. Just then your kid comes by and asks why you’re pounding on the keyboard. You look up and you don’t lose it but you’re also ready to dismiss his question with a shrug, but you go ahead and mention that your phone is locked and isn’t functioning. Your kid reaches over, pushes the two buttons and suddenly the screen goes blank. You panic. Is the phone broken? He looks at you and tells you to wait 30 seconds and restart the phone. You wait, you do and within a minute you’re up an running with speed and ease that reminds you of the day you got your new phone.

It’s called a reset. After a while your phone gets cluttered with junk from apps, ads and emails. Resetting cleans out the junk. Restarting is a new start.

I’m not giving you tech advice today, merely making the analogy to the Lenten period. With the beginning of Lent you’ve turned off your phone. The days of Lent what you’re in now, are the 30 second wait period and on Easter Sunday, you’re going to turn life on again.

Your act of charity today is geared toward yourself. Turn off your phone. Wait a while and turn it back on. You now have a reset phone.

Try a spinach salad with passion fruit dressing and maple-glazed almonds. The recipe is at the bottom of this page.

We pray, “Lord, I thank you for the gift of forgiveness. Knowing you forgive sins and your forgiveness is complete, I reset my life and thank you for the opportunity to start anew. Amen.”

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 4: Spinach Salad with Passionfruit Dressing and Maple-Glazed Almonds

Conditions (or not) of Forgiveness

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The Forgiveness Imperative

In the “Our Father” there are very few requests we have of God. We ask for our daily bread, forgiveness of our sins, to be spared from temptation and ultimately from evil. It’s a short list with huge demands. Of these, the forgiveness of sin stands out from all others because it is the only request that is conditional. As Jesus teaches the prayer, the words he uses are “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.”

Our debts, or sins, are forgiven by the same standard upon which we forgive the debts, or sins, of others! In fact, this is such an important aspect of the Our Father prayer, that Jesus reinforces it with a statement following the prayer in verses 6:14-15: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Our sins are forgiven as we forgive others their sins. Forgive a person only half of their debt, be certain that God will forgive only half of your debts, or sins.

More important than figuring out percentages of sins and fractions of forgiveness, Jesus is asking us to take responsibility for harmony in the world.

The greatest obstacle to living a good, meaningful and fulfilling life is our sin. In the Church we define seven “deadly” sins: Pride, Anger, Envy, Greed, Lust, Gluttony and Sloth. Today, take a moment to identify the reasons and obstacles to living a godly, good life. You’ll find that one or several of these noted sins are at the root of your difficulties. You have it within you to be forgiven of your sins. The condition is singular, forgive others. In other words, Jesus asks us to live in harmony with everyone.

There is no one who does not sin. Only Jesus is sinless. As such, only Jesus has the right to judge others, but he chooses not to. Now the turn is ours. Forgive.

Let us pray,
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Debt Reduction (Listen with the Heart)

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Armodoxy for Today – Listening with the heart

In our Daily Message about prayer, we defined prayer as a conversation involving speaking as well as listening. The art of listening is not limited to a function of the ears. For instance, in the Lord’s prayer, the request to forgive our trespasses, or sins, is dependent on our ability to forgive others who trespass against us.

The act of listening, in this case, requires that we contemplate our pattern of forgiveness. To listen, means we reflect on all those who have hurt us, “trespassed” against us, and ask ourselves sincerely, if we have forgiven them. For the condition of forgiveness from God is dependent on our forgiveness of others. “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Did we forgive them half of their debt? Then we can expect God to forgive half of our debt. In other words, by saying “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,” we are responsible for our own reward or condemnation. By our own mouth we write out a ticket of peace or a path of torment. In fact, so great is this condition, that Jesus reiterates it at the conclusion of the “Lord’s Prayer.” In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus adds these verses to the Lord’s Prayer, “If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Listening is the act of introspection. God talks to us on a multitude of levels – think of them as different frequencies and bandwidths. Don’t expect to hear the thunderous voice of God, if you first haven’t heard His soft whisper in your heart. It’s a voice that says look within, forgive and move forward. Converse with God and remember to listen, especially with your heart.

I share with you the prayer of St. Nersess Shnorhali, from the 23rd hour: All merciful Lord, have mercy on all Your faithful, on those who are mine and on those who are strangers, on those whom I know and on those whom I know not, on the living and on the dead, and forgive all my enemies, and those who hate me, the trespasses that they have committed against me, turn them from the malice which they bear towards me, that they may be worthy of Your mercy.