Forgiveness

 Forgiveness is such a complex word.

At my church, we ask for forgiveness at the beginning of worship each week.

We repent from things seen and unseen,

From actions done and left undone,

And we are granted pardon through the grace of Jesus Christ.

Then, later in the service,

We ask, again, that God forgive us our trespasses,

But this time, we include the condition “as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

I find this interesting in two ways.

 

One:

We’ve confessed our sins and been forgiven at the beginning of the service.

So why ask for forgiveness again?

Either we’ve done something sinful during the service—which is entirely possible—

Or we’re acknowledging that acceptance of forgiveness isn’t easy—and that we must be reminded of it over and over and over again.

 

Two: We’re asking God to forgive us AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS.

This means that if we want God to forgive us then we must forgive others…

And, man, that’s hard sometimes!

It’s hard to forgive those who deeply wound us.

It’s hard to let go of the emotional pull of intensely emotional situations.

It’s hard to move past egregious wrongs.

Shoot. It’s hard to move past simple wrongs as well.

Yet Jesus commands us to forgive.

 

As I’ve pondered Jesus’s command this week,

I’ve come to realize that, for me,

Forgiveness comes from a place much deeper than hurt.

Forgiveness comes from common humanity.

God has granted us all the possibility of forgiveness through Christ.

None of us, at our core, is too wrong or bad to receive God’s grace.

If God’s grace is big enough for me,

Then I must allow it to be big enough for you, too.

I must forgive you for being human,

In all of its flaws,

And let God work with you to heal the brokenness that I cannot.

 

Forgiveness doesn’t mean that I have to suddenly like you.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean that we have to be best friends.

Forgiveness doesn’t erase healthy boundaries.

But forgiveness DOES release paralyzing emotional bonds—

Forgiveness DOES acknowledge that we were doing the best we could do under the circumstances—

Forgiveness DOES recognize mental illness as part of humanity’s sickness—

And forgiveness happens in time,

As a daily choice,

Over and over and over again.

 

May we be a people of forgiveness,

Rooted in common humanity,

Not forgetting,

Or glossing over hurt,

Or pretending that everything is fine,

But remembering the grace and love that God gives us,

Day in and day out,

Even in the midst of worship.

 

Amen.