09-20-25

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
September 20, 2025
When was the last time you received forgiveness? When was the last time you extended forgiveness? In a faith built around a God whose mercy is beyond anything one could imagine, I would hope we could name times when we had been on the receiving end of forgiveness. And since we claim to follow a man named Jesus who, among other things, offered forgiveness at a level well beyond anything his disciples believed necessary, I would hope we could think of times when we had extended forgiveness. If all these remain mostly in the theoretical, nothing more than concepts we discuss and form theories around, then I do not believe it is a living faith. In Matthew 9:13, Jesus said, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Sacrifice represented the rituals around worship, many of them that have become empty of meaning. I don’t believe Jesus was dismissing every act of worship, but inviting worship to have a purpose beyond the experience itself. Worship can be powerful, but for those of us who follow Jesus, it’s not the ultimate goal. Instead, it serves as a catalyst for transformation, helping us become the recipients and sharers of forgiveness in this world.

You are full of mercy and kindness, O God, and it is our desire to connect with those gifts, to know the blessings of those gifts, and then utilize those gifts for the benefit of the world. Amen.