LESSONS FROM THE UNFORGIVING SERVANT

In this sermon for the 22nd Sunday After Trinity, we discuss the way in which the readings from our lectionary come together through Christ's story of the "Unforgiving Servant." We explore how we are like this servant in our reluctance to share the Apostolic and Orthodox Gospel with those around us, in our desire to see our enemies suffer, and our lack of ability to forgive others of sins for which we ourselves have been forgiven. We focus on the importance of repentance and confession, not as a magic ritual, but as a inner process of heart transformation and life sanctification.