07-26-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 26, 2024
As those who have been forgiven, we are called upon to forgive. I would guess that most followers of Jesus would agree with those words, yet I hear people adding exemptions to that premise. For them, there are certain limitations to forgiveness, though Jesus seemed to challenge some of those exceptions, even the ones we find really challenging. Using a parable, Jesus responded to a question from Peter about how often a person should forgive. Peter felt pretty generous when he said, “Should I forgive as many as seven times?” The parable is about a Master who demonstrates mercy by forgiving a servant who owed the Master a great deal. Of course, the parable goes on to suggest that the same forgiven servant shows absolutely no mercy to another servant who owed just a little. It sounds like an excellent teaching parable, though I will confess some discomfort with how the parable closes. Right after Jesus had told Peter and the other disciples about the expansive nature of God’s forgiveness, the master in the story forgives once, but not twice. Again, I don’t necessarily believe that was the purpose of the parable. Like any fable or analogy, there is always a point at which it begins to break down. Nonetheless, it is probably important to recognize that we might have greater appreciation of the gift of forgiveness given to us if we are able to forgive someone else for something less significant.

May I treasure the depth of you merciful kindness and forgiveness, O God, and not simply in some sort of theoretical way. When I choose to forgive others, understanding the difficulties and complications of doing so, it is more likely that I will appreciate what you have done for me. Amen.