Sept. 17, 2017 15h of Pentecost

Matthew 18: 21, 22  (The Message)

21 At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?" 22 Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.

Forgiveness is not an option in the Kingdom of Heaven...it is a requirement.  We cannot choose if we are going to forgive or who we are going to forgive or not forgive...we are to forgive as we have been forgiven!  And that is a lot!

Forgiveness begins with being forgiven.
Only the person who receives forgiveness can pass it on;
Only the person who passes on forgiveness really receives it.

Forgiveness is an echo.  It does not originate with us and it does not end with us.
We forgive as we have been forgiven.

“When somebody you’ve wronged forgives you, you’re spared the dull and self-diminishing throb of a guilty conscience.
When you forgive somebody who has wronged you, you’re spared the dismal corrosion of bitterness and wounded pride.
For both parties, forgiveness means the freedom again to be at peace inside their own skins and to be glad in each others presence.”  Frederick Buechner




“To be forgiven and forgiving is to live believing that we can have a common future even with our enemies and even with those who have treated us unfairly.  It is to live believing in forgiveness, which is...love’s revolution against life’s unfairness.”
 
Lewis Smedes

Prayer thoughts for the week:
“Lord, help to forgive even when I don’t want to.”
“…keep me open to forgiveness even when the one I want to forgive doesn’t want my forgiveness.”
“…help me to never give up on forgiveness.”