In Matthew 18, Peter asks Jesus how often he needs to forgive – as many as seven times? And Jesus says, “Not seven times, but I tell you, seventy-seven times!”
Forgiveness is an important part of our faith, and Jesus teaches us to pray, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” Yet Peter shows us how hard forgiveness can be. How have you experienced forgiveness – on both the sending and the receiving end?
Forgiveness can feel so good when it happens to us. However, sometimes I fear that we make it an impossible burden on others (or ourselves). Can you think of a time where forgiveness is not the point? What helps in those situations?
Jesus tells a parable with some humor about a slave begging for forgiveness, a king granting it, and then the slave refusing to forgive a fellow slave. There are clearly differences of power and influence at work. When you listen to that parable this weekend, try to feel those imbalances. Where are they at work in your life and our society in 2020?
Be gentle with yourselves. There are lots of stresses these days – and we place ourselves again and again in God’s grace as God’s Spirit keeps working with us and through us.
Peace, Hans
Three Holy Days
In our tradition, we make space on Maundy Thursday to remember central parts of our faith story. We hear about the...
