"...forgive us as we forgive those who trespass (or sin) against us..."
Important things are often repeated. Helpful things are shared more than once, because they are very helpful. Maybe that is part of why we say these words so often. Forgiveness is important. And forgiveness helps our relationships.
Forgiveness, writes Marjorie Thompson, is the foundation from which new life flows in a wounded, strife-weary world. And if ever there was a time in our contemporary era in which people who think differently from one another, vote differently, and politic differently need to find other ways to connect for the first time or re-connect through forgiveness; now is the best time to consider the gift that forgiveness is. A community, no matter the size or shape, is difficult, if not impossible, to establish if an offering of apology or recognition of wound is not addressed and healed.
Last Sunday we talked about how the best starting point for forgiveness is not ourselves, nor the people we want to forgive (or who need our apology), but the best starting point on forgiveness is our God in Christ.
Rev. Thompson concludes that "Forgiveness is an out-pouring of love from the inner life of the Trinity and can only be fully understood when experienced as a transforming power in the life of a human community that mirrors God's being." God's mysterious and unique nature, as a three-in-one-Holy Being, is a manifestation of love which over spills into our hearts...empowering us to ask, seek, and offer forgiveness.
This week as you move through your Lent journey... start with God as you pray. Start with asking God's Spirit to show you for whom you need to forgive. Start with seeking God's Spirit to reveal who you need to apologize or seek their forgiveness. And trust that our God in Christ is big enough, large enough, and loving enough to aid you in your giving and receiving of forgiveness.
See you at the forgiving place,
Pastor Michelle
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