What pardon this year

In today's world, where ambiguity and wars ravage both Christian and Jewish traditions, the challenge of pardon and forgiveness becomes even more complex.

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is a unique occasion in which God can pardon each person, but this is only possible if individuals are willing to ask for forgiveness. This also requires the capacity to truly pardon others and accept the words of penitents. In our current reality, however, it can be exceedingly difficult to forgive, particularly when we are faced with ongoing conflict and deep divisions.

Yom Kippur is often depicted as a day of brightness. The white garments worn symbolize the purity that follows sorrow, sins, and transgressions, reminding us that God's light can illuminate even the darkest aspects of our lives.

The whiteness represents renewal and spiritual clarity, as if, after a long and perilous journey, we emerge from the shadows of suffering into the light of redemption. This is true not only for the physically afflicted—those struggling with addiction or wandering through life without direction—but also for those in society who may appear outwardly righteous yet harbor corruption within.

One of the most challenging aspects of our spiritual lives today is the growing tendency toward self-reflection, or "mirroring." In Hebrew, the word for "face," panim (????), is plural, indicating that we, too, live with a dual nature: the outward face we present to the world and the hidden one we keep to ourselves. This duality often prevents us from fully understanding ourselves or reconciling with others, particularly in times of conflict or misunderstanding.

The sun and the moon, created together according to scripture, reflect this dual nature. The sun, much larger than the moon, represents clarity and light, while the moon's smaller, changing nature mirrors the fluctuations of human life and faith.

In Christian tradition, as Paul of Tarsus writes, we "see indistinctly, as in a mirror," yet through faith and love, we can reach a clearer understanding, especially through the grace of forgiveness.

Yom Kippur, with its rituals and sacrifices, seeks to facilitate this reconciliation. The tradition of sending the scapegoat into the wilderness serves as a symbol of casting away the sins of the people, yet the true challenge lies in the ability to reconcile, to forgive, and to accept that atonement requires both spiritual and human effort. In the modern world, it is all too easy to dismiss or avoid the deep work of personal responsibility, much as society sometimes overlooks the corrosive effects of lies, theft, corruption, and violence.

The Yom Kippur confessions, especially the Vidui (confession of sins), and their focus on specific wrongdoings—from slander to theft—demonstrate how we often twist our thoughts, words, and actions. In a time when communication is quick and often disconnected, words and speech can easily become weapons, leading to misunderstandings, alienation, and even violence. Judaism calls on us to reflect on our misdeeds, to ask for forgiveness, and to engage in the laborious task of self-correction.

In both the Jewish and Christian traditions, the act of forgiveness is essential for spiritual renewal.

In Christianity, the Lord’s Prayer echoes the same sentiment: we must first forgive others to receive God’s forgiveness. The Eastern Orthodox Church, in its Lenten traditions, underscores this message of atonement and reconciliation, a journey toward purity and resurrection, which mirrors the Jewish understanding of Yom Kippur as a time for spiritual healing and renewal.

We live in an age of widespread conflict and misunderstanding, yet the practices of Yom Kippur and Great Lent offer a path toward healing.

Both traditions - and the specificity of the Eastern Byzantine Sunday of Forgiveness when entering Great Lent - encourage us to reflect on our wrongdoings, seek forgiveness, and work toward true reconciliation.

But more than that, they call on us to trust in God’s ability to renew and purify our lives. As we move through times of doubt, difficulty, and confusion, the ultimate lesson is that forgiveness—both human and divine—is the key to unlocking our full potential for healing and transformation. At times, the key does not work and the gates, the doors of pardon and atonement remain locked. Humans are often stubborn and would not move, just stay put and stiff.

In the end, the road to forgiveness is not easy, definitely not. The question is not to forgive as suggested strongly suggested by the Jewish tradition. Jesus added more: we have the commandment to endeavor to forgive all trespasses and sins to the fullest, without exception, which sounds a bit beyond human capacities. We stumble on such demand of the Lord.

It is full of challenges, doubts, and setbacks. But it is through this very struggle that we find meaning, growth, and ultimately, the grace to begin anew.

Yom Kippur and the Christian Lenten period invite us to examine our hearts, to seek reconciliation with one another, and to trust that forgiveness can bring about real and lasting change.

In these uncertain times, it is this very act of forgiveness that may lead us toward a more just, compassionate, and peaceful world.