Road of Forgiveness: True Homecoming

THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL: MATTHEW 18: 21-35 (MESSAGE)

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?" Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.  The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn't pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.  The poor wretch threw himself at the king's feet and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt. The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, 'Pay up. Now!' The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' But he wouldn't do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.  The king summoned the man and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?' The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy."

This weekend we will observe the tenth anniversary of the life-changing, nation-altering events of September 11, 2001.  In light of this, Sunday’s Gospel lesson on forgiveness is either terribly ironic or divinely inspired.  During the last ten years, we have heard little about forgiveness and more about the righteous reasons for revenge and death.  During the last ten years, we have struggled against the escalating fear of the other and the singular message of protecting ourselves at all costs from this other.

Given this, where do we find Jesus’ message today?  What about loving our neighbors, forgiving our enemies not just once but seventy times seven?  What does that kind of love and mercy look like in our post-September 11 world? 

I bet we all can relate once more to Peter who is dumbfounded by the previous lesson about how to address conflict directly with compassion and mercy. On the heels of this lesson, Peter, who is truly human, doesn’t know if he can really follow do this.  He asks Jesus to quantify just how much he should extend this grace.  As many as seven times (which is way too much, especially when you know that the other is wrong and should be punished)?

 

Forgiveness and mercy are journeys.  Sometimes it takes a while for us to reach the place where we find the capacity to forgive once much less seventy times seven, but Jesus prompts us to try.  To acknowledge our hurt, to name our pain and to try to offer the same forgiveness and grace that we have been given … To try means that we are on the journey, on the way to understanding more deeply and more fully the great love and grace God has for each one of us.

This Sunday we will think and pray about the “Road of Forgiveness: True Homecoming” as we observe the tenth anniversary of these events and as we celebrate our homecoming, our return to Christ Church after time away for the summer.   Please join us this Sunday, September 11 at 10:00a.m. for a heartfelt service of worship. 

Immediately following the service we will play together at our annual Welcome Back Potluck Picnic in the Park.  There will be a bouncy-house and games for the children and time to catch up with each other for the adults.  Invite your friends, family and neighbors for a day that will be both contemplative and fun.  Hope to see you in there.