FORGIVE US, Forgive THem

From Rev Sue Ann Yarbrough

Scripture: Ephesians 4:32
"And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ."

Meditation
This scripture sounds so simple, does it not? Just forgive one another. After all, when we pray the Lord's prayer, we pray, "Forgive us..." Jesus on the cross said, "Forgive them..."

​In Matthew 18:22 we read of Jesus telling the disciples to forgive, "seventy times seven". In other words, simply forgive. Do not count the number of times you are called to forgive. 

God does not keep a ledger, nor should we. Forgive. Yet, too often, forgiveness does not come easy.

I recently received an email from a person whose mother passed away more than two years ago. She wanted to let me know that she felt the church had let her mother down. 

I was surprised to read of her anger. I wondered why she carried this frustration for so long without speaking to me about it.

​So, I asked her if she could forgive the community. She replied yes, and I pray her burden has been lightened. Part of forgiveness is trusting, even when we do not know how the story unfolds. The ending must be left in God's hands.

In this Lenten season, and always, let us go about forgiving who and what we can every day and every night. Our lives on this earth are much too short to harbor resentment. Christ calls us to freedom, but we cannot follow until we forgive what we are leaving behind.

Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth, as it is heaven. 
Give us this day Our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. 
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,  and the glory forever.
Amen

Rev. Sue Ann Yarbrough, Pastor
San Lorenzo Community Church, United Church of Christ
 
www.slzchurch.org 
www.hearthpsalms.blogspot.com