March 8, 2024

Getting the Straight Story on Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Then Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, if my brother or sister 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)

Peter came to Jesus with a question, “Teacher, when are we done forgiving a person?” and Jesus responded, “Never.” Peter was looking at forgiveness as an obligation, social, religious, and moral. It was Jewish law, after all; and, at some point you meet the obligation of the law, right? But Jesus said, “No.”

Like Peter we often see forgiveness as an end in itself. But the gospel suggests it is not. Forgiving another person is a step on the way to reconciliation. Asking for and receiving forgiveness is the first step in repairing the damage by a wrong that was done. But the hard work is rebuilding the damaged relationship: moving forward by healing it, restoring it, and renewing it. Reconciliation is what God offers us through the Cross, and what we are to offer the world as reconciled and redeemed people. (See 2 Corinthians 5:17-21). 

Reconciliation is a process, it takes time. In teaching courses on reconciliation across my career, I offered perspectives from scripture, theology, sociology, psychology, and ethics, as it is a not a simple process. What pulled it all together was showing examples of it, telling stories of those who have been reconciled after their relationship was breached. Besides using Desmond Tutu’s book No Future Without Forgiveness, I used two films, Dead Man Walking and The Straight Story. The latter is one we invite you to watch together this Saturday evening at 7 pm, and discuss it afterwards. All I will say about that film in advance is that, just as our Lenten reflection on our walk with Christ is a journey, so this film depicts reconciliation as a journey. And a memorable journey at that.

I look forward to hearing what you think about this journey on Saturday night.

May God bless us all on our journey to the Cross this Lent.

~ Pastor Todd

P.S.Please remember to turn your clocks ahead this Saturday night.