Forgiveness is a cornerstone of the Christian faith. In the Lord’s Prayer we pray forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Depending upon your particular denomination debts/debtors is replaced by trespasses/trespass against us or sins/sin against us. In addition to this prayer, Jesus had more to say about forgiveness.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.–Matthew 6:14-15
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.–Matthew 18:21-22
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”–Luke 6:37-38
Of course the ultimate example of forgiveness is found at the foot of the Cross when Jesus forgave those who had judged him in a kangaroo court, then beaten and tortured him. He also forgave the ones who were about to execute him.
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” –Luke 23:34a
As I look upon the world today and as I look into my own life, I see a tremendous amount of talk about “getting even” or retribution… our state and federal prison system (and immoral for-profit prisons) are about retribution instead of rehabilitation or restorative justice. We are also in the middle of yet another conflict where words and missiles are exchanged in a tit-for-tat escalation. Unless reason and sound judgment arise, we will be in yet another global conflict.
Below is a quote that is attributed to Mahatma Gandhi which summarizes his philosophy of nonviolence. His philosophy in turn, greatly influenced Howard Thurman, Martin Luther King. Jr., and the American Civil Rights movement. — “An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.” Yes, these words strike right to the core of the matters before us today.
The quote that actually started this exploration and reflection for me came from Thomas Merton’s little book, Silence, Joy. In this particular chapter titled “Some Words from the Desert Fathers” Merton shares quotes from the early Desert Fathers. “One of the elders was asked what was humility, and he said: If you forgive a brother who has injured you before he himself asks pardon.” Forgiveness is tied directly to humility. This humility or humble spirit is the polar opposite of humiliation which we see a lot on the world stage today.
In his writings and explorations, Merton shows us how we can learn a lot from our spiritual ancestors about faith and life. In my own life and studies, I have learned much and continue to learn from the Masters. Whether it is Jesus, Gandhi, Howard Thurman, Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day, Daniel Berrigan, or Martin Luther King, Jr.; we can learn a great deal and be challenged in our own thinking and actions.
As I reflect on my own life and actions, the picture at the top of the blog makes sense. The footprints of various birds on the sand at Perdido Key in Florida represent the many influences in my own spiritual journey.
They can also represent my life with all of its ups and downs, failures and successes. Forgiveness… as the tide washes away the prints in the sand, so does God’s forgiveness wash away our sins. In my own life and in the world today, we sure do need a more loving, caring, and forgiving way of living.
Thank you dear reader, for taking the time to read and reflect with me. My prayer is that this transformation will grow until the words of the prophet come true: He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.–Isaiah 2:4
May it be so dear Lord I pray.
A very powerful blog, Jake!
If you’re trying to please God, I really wish you would stop. That’s not what real love looks like. It’s just people-pleasing on a cosmic scale. And people pleasing misconstrues love as a transaction….
Read more at https://jakeowensby.com/2020/01/10/love-is-not-a-transaction/
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
A day of preparation and paperwork
A day of ministry and hospital calls
A day of reflection and prayer
As I seek to serve you, Lord
As I seek to serve all of your children
I lift up my heart
I lift up my prayers
Lord, help us to be instruments of your peace
Lord help us to Be Still
Lord guide us at all times
Now as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
As nighttime falls quietly
And quickly it seems
Upon our little corner of the world
Even though Sister Moon is hidden from view
The stars still shine as a reminder
I am with you, even in the darkness
Be Still and Know
I am with you, always
Even when you are tired and weary
I am with you
Be Still and Know
Even when there is chaos all around
Even when your heart and your body ache
I am with you
Be Still and Know
“I am often struck, in the prophetic texts of the Hebrew Scriptures, by the prophets’ ability to see the difference between what is and what should be. Sometimes I get so caught up in the ‘what should be’ part, that I miss out on the ‘what is’ aspect of life. I sometimes complain so much about the rain that I miss the rainbow.”
— John Valters Paintner, MTS, The Soul’s Slow Ripening: 12 Celtic Practices for Seeking the Sacred
I am thankful to GodSpaceLight for sharing my Blog!
It is January 9th and we have moved into the season of Epiphany.
— Read on godspacelight.com/2020/01/09/33296/
“Nature reminds us of the messiness and beauty of things. Nature says that when we let ourselves get messy and play in the dirt, profound things can happen.”
— Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, Earth, Our Original Monastery: Cultivating Wonder and Gratitude through Intimacy with Nature
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
When times are frustrating
You surround us with your love
When the light seems dim
Your love shows the way
Lord, in all times and places, show us the way
Let your light shine in the darkness
Circle us with your love, Lord
Encourage us and walk with us along your pathway
Lord, as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
Have you ever had a connection with someone whom you have never met in person? Someone who’s spiritual thoughts and musings resonate deep within your soul? Meet my friend and brother Jake Owensby! We met through the blogging world and instantly connected.
His book, A Resurrection Shaped Life, is an amazing read that was hard for me to put down when I read it. It is a combination of a reflective autobiography and journal of spiritual discernment which he invites the reader to enter.
He draws you in and welcomes you to accompany him as he reflects on his own life experience in a raw and honest way. His use of his own story alongside of the Scriptural narrative is both imaginative and compelling. The reader is drawn into his story in an honest and humble way. You really connect with Jake’s story and the larger narrative of resurrection hope and grace in the midst of adversity.
I can’t recommend this book highly enough, dear reader. I invite you to meet my friend and colleague in ministry within the pages of A Resurrection Shaped Life along with his other books and his blog which is found at this link — Jake Owensby’s Blog
This video gives you a taste of the incredible experience you will have as you sit at the coffee table with Jake and digest both his story and his down to earth reflections.
Jake Owensby – A Resurrection Shaped Life
You can purchase his book at the following Amazon link: Amazon – A Resurrection Shaped Life
Verse of the day
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. – Matthew 26:52 (NIV)
Voice of the day
Peace is the alternative to war, and nonviolence should be seen as the antidote to violence, not simply as its opposite. Nonviolence is more concerned with saving life than with saving face. – Jesse Jackson
Prayer of the day
God, bring us into alignment with the love you have for all of humanity. Let us be concerned with saving life more than saving face. Amen.
