Paying It Forward
Our theme from both of our scriptures readings this week; from Genesis and from Matthew, is forgiveness. To forgive others as God forgave us. In Genesis, Joseph was the 11th of Jacob’s 12 sons, who was not treated kindly by his brothers. You may remember that after Jacob favored Joseph with a coat of many colors, his jealous brothers conspired against him, eventually selling him into slavery. And after quite a bit of drama and intrigue in the Egyptian courts where they are reunited, the brothers become fearful that Joseph will take out his revenge on them. And instead, we hear the word of Genesis 50:
“Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to harm me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear. I myself will provide for you and your little ones.”
And likewise we read an account of forgiveness from the Gospel of Matthew. How often are we instructed to forgive if someone asks it? As many as seven times?
More. As many as seventy-seven times.
And when I read that, I had a brief moment in my head where I wondered what it might be like to say those words, “I forgive you” seventy-seven times.
“I forgive you.” “I forgive you.” “I forgive you.” “I forgive you.” “I forgive you.” “I forgive you.” “I forgive you.”
That was only the seven times that Peter asked about. Not the seventy-seven that Jesus responded with.
And in each saying of those words, I can feel my soul settling. I can feel grace welling within me. There is power in saying the words of forgiveness.
And that’s just me, standing here, in the space, not saying them to anybody in particular – just saying “I forgive you,” not to anyone who especially needs my forgiveness. But just as a tool of rhetoric, to make a point.
And still, those words, spoken in a vacuum, do something. They resonate. For me at least, and I encourage you to do this as well – it’s almost like an emotional workout. It’s breaking a spiritual sweat when there’s not much on the line, because forgiveness – the act of letting go of a grudge; letting a wrong against you slide… saying to another person, “You hurt me, you know you hurt me, and even knowing that, I’m going to make myself vulnerable to you again…” these words take practice.
Because they’re not easy to do.
Forgiveness is making yourself vulnerable to a person who you know can hurt you and you know could do it again. And that goes against every grain of our natures. Our animal instincts are wired towards self-preservation – when we perceive a threat we avoid it, we run from it, we attack it – we don’t invite threats into our space and say, “here, I’m giving you the opportunity to hurt me again, and trusting that you won’t.”
Forgiveness – true forgiveness – isn’t easy.
If it was, everyone would do it.
But we don’t.
Sometimes we do. And for those of you who have gone through pain with someone and invited them back into your lives, you know how tormenting and difficult the process can be.
Much more often than offering true forgiveness is that we’ll simply give lip service to it.
We’ll say, “I forgive you,” but hold on to the grudge.
We’ll say, “I forgive you,” but never extend our hand in welcome again.
We’ll say, “I forgive you,” and never let go of that little voice in the back of our heads saying, “don’t trust this person.”
That’s not how God forgives. That’s not how God asks us to forgive.
Over and over, throughout the Holy Scriptures, we are reminded of God’s grace and love for us. That the Good News of Jesus Christ is our forgiveness – that our sins will not be the measure of our judgment, when our time for judgment comes.
And to receive God’s grace is also to extend that grace. Jesus tells us in this passage from Matthew, that the person who receives forgiveness is not given license to go out and deny the same to others. As the master says to the servant, “You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?”
The grace of God is given freely. It is ours. And in receiving that grace, it should be our inclination… not just an inclination, but an fervert desire – the highest expression of our gratitude – to share grace with others.
It should be. It is sometimes. Other times it’s harder. Because it isn’t easy.
When Jesus tells us to forgive others as God forgave us, that’s a statement of quality, not just quantity. Not only to forgive any who ask, but to be willing to hit that reset button that really and truly says that the past is in the past and what truly matters is the love and relationship we share going forward.
God does not forgive in half-measures.
God does not forgive, then continue to hold our sins over our heads.
God forgives, wholly and completely, and tells us to keep on forgiving as well.
And that’s a discipline. It takes practice. It may mean saying those words, “I forgive you,” to no one in particular. Or say them in the mirror. Repeating them, and learning how to form those words, because they’re not ones we say very often. And not just saying them – but meaning them. It’s work. And it’s scary. And it does open us up in vulnerability to people who may have hurt us before. And that’s a process. And it’s work. And sometimes we can’t do it alone, if we can do it at all.
Yet it’s the very same process that God works in our lives, each and every day.
We are blessed to have a loving Creator who favors us with divine grace and forgiveness without limit or condition. Let us endeavor to love as God has loved us; to God be all glory, praise, and honor. Amen.
Let us pray.
Holy Lord, we pray for your continuing grace in our lives. Your never-ending presence gives us comfort and peace in an uncertain world. Lord, help us to practice forgiveness with others; to see the divine spark of Christ in people we carry grudges against; and to fill the dark, angry corners of our hearts with light and love. We pray this in the name of our Eternal Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our theme from both of our scriptures readings this week; from Genesis and from Matthew, is forgiveness. To forgive others as God forgave us. In Genesis, Joseph was the 11th of Jacob’s 12 sons, who was not treated kindly by his brothers. You may remember that after Jacob favored Joseph with a coat of many colors, his jealous brothers conspired against him, eventually selling him into slavery. And after quite a bit of drama and intrigue in the Egyptian courts where they are reunited, the brothers become fearful that Joseph will take out his revenge on them. And instead, we hear the word of Genesis 50:
“Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to harm me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear. I myself will provide for you and your little ones.”
And likewise we read an account of forgiveness from the Gospel of Matthew. How often are we instructed to forgive if someone asks it? As many as seven times?
More. As many as seventy-seven times.
And when I read that, I had a brief moment in my head where I wondered what it might be like to say those words, “I forgive you” seventy-seven times.
“I forgive you.” “I forgive you.” “I forgive you.” “I forgive you.” “I forgive you.” “I forgive you.” “I forgive you.”
That was only the seven times that Peter asked about. Not the seventy-seven that Jesus responded with.
And in each saying of those words, I can feel my soul settling. I can feel grace welling within me. There is power in saying the words of forgiveness.
And that’s just me, standing here, in the space, not saying them to anybody in particular – just saying “I forgive you,” not to anyone who especially needs my forgiveness. But just as a tool of rhetoric, to make a point.
And still, those words, spoken in a vacuum, do something. They resonate. For me at least, and I encourage you to do this as well – it’s almost like an emotional workout. It’s breaking a spiritual sweat when there’s not much on the line, because forgiveness – the act of letting go of a grudge; letting a wrong against you slide… saying to another person, “You hurt me, you know you hurt me, and even knowing that, I’m going to make myself vulnerable to you again…” these words take practice.
Because they’re not easy to do.
Forgiveness is making yourself vulnerable to a person who you know can hurt you and you know could do it again. And that goes against every grain of our natures. Our animal instincts are wired towards self-preservation – when we perceive a threat we avoid it, we run from it, we attack it – we don’t invite threats into our space and say, “here, I’m giving you the opportunity to hurt me again, and trusting that you won’t.”
Forgiveness – true forgiveness – isn’t easy.
If it was, everyone would do it.
But we don’t.
Sometimes we do. And for those of you who have gone through pain with someone and invited them back into your lives, you know how tormenting and difficult the process can be.
Much more often than offering true forgiveness is that we’ll simply give lip service to it.
We’ll say, “I forgive you,” but hold on to the grudge.
We’ll say, “I forgive you,” but never extend our hand in welcome again.
We’ll say, “I forgive you,” and never let go of that little voice in the back of our heads saying, “don’t trust this person.”
That’s not how God forgives. That’s not how God asks us to forgive.
Over and over, throughout the Holy Scriptures, we are reminded of God’s grace and love for us. That the Good News of Jesus Christ is our forgiveness – that our sins will not be the measure of our judgment, when our time for judgment comes.
And to receive God’s grace is also to extend that grace. Jesus tells us in this passage from Matthew, that the person who receives forgiveness is not given license to go out and deny the same to others. As the master says to the servant, “You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?”
The grace of God is given freely. It is ours. And in receiving that grace, it should be our inclination… not just an inclination, but an fervert desire – the highest expression of our gratitude – to share grace with others.
It should be. It is sometimes. Other times it’s harder. Because it isn’t easy.
When Jesus tells us to forgive others as God forgave us, that’s a statement of quality, not just quantity. Not only to forgive any who ask, but to be willing to hit that reset button that really and truly says that the past is in the past and what truly matters is the love and relationship we share going forward.
God does not forgive in half-measures.
God does not forgive, then continue to hold our sins over our heads.
God forgives, wholly and completely, and tells us to keep on forgiving as well.
And that’s a discipline. It takes practice. It may mean saying those words, “I forgive you,” to no one in particular. Or say them in the mirror. Repeating them, and learning how to form those words, because they’re not ones we say very often. And not just saying them – but meaning them. It’s work. And it’s scary. And it does open us up in vulnerability to people who may have hurt us before. And that’s a process. And it’s work. And sometimes we can’t do it alone, if we can do it at all.
Yet it’s the very same process that God works in our lives, each and every day.
We are blessed to have a loving Creator who favors us with divine grace and forgiveness without limit or condition. Let us endeavor to love as God has loved us; to God be all glory, praise, and honor. Amen.
Let us pray.
Holy Lord, we pray for your continuing grace in our lives. Your never-ending presence gives us comfort and peace in an uncertain world. Lord, help us to practice forgiveness with others; to see the divine spark of Christ in people we carry grudges against; and to fill the dark, angry corners of our hearts with light and love. We pray this in the name of our Eternal Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.