Forgive And You Will Be Forgiven

[Rom. 13:11–14:4; Matt. 6:14–21] For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you; But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, nei‐ther will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matt. 6:14–15). What a simple and handy means of salva‐tion! Your trespasses are forgiven under the condition that you forgive the trespasses of your neighbour a‐gainst you. This means that you are in your own hands. Force yourself to pass from agitated feelings to‐ward your brother to truly peaceful feelings — and that is all. Forgive‐ness day — what a great heavenly day of God this is! If all of us used it as we ought, this day would make Christian societies into heavenly so‐cieties, and the earth would merge with heaven.

Saint Theophan the Recluse