Sunday, September 17, 2017

Forgiven 9/17

Genesis 50:15-21   Psalm 103   Romans 14:1-12   Matthew 18:21-35

Three readings and a psalm and all we hear about is 'forgiveness.'

I hope you know the psycho-physical impact of forgiveness. The Mayo Clinic claims forgiveness helps the heart, blood pressure, sleeping, and moods; it increases our life span and makes us happier.

Theologically, Jesus makes it clear. "If you want to be forgiven you must forgive. Period"

Each Sunday we pray, "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." Jesus has declared that, if you do not forgive the trespass of another, then God will not forgive you. Period. Today, there is a parable about forgiveness. It is a story of two servants. The first owes a ridiculous debt. Ten thousand is the biggest numeral available in Hebrew and a talent (twenty years wages) is the largest monetary measure; so it is as symbolic as my kids saying "a million billion." [200,000 years wages] Point one, we are in debt for everything to God. Life, blessings, forgiveness; it is all a mercy. We stand before God with an unpayable debt. However, this does not mean that others are not in our debt. In particular, those who have done us harm. One hundred denarii is just over three months wages. That is not a trifling amount to a working person. The issue is not that we minimize what others have done to us, it is that we are aware of all we have been forgiven, of all that we have received, of the undeserved gift of eternal life.

NT Wright explains it thus. If you close off your heart to forgive others, then your heart is closed and cannot receive God's mercy. It is a helpful analogy. In the end, how ever you try to explain it, be crystal clear. Jesus says, "If you do not forgive, you will not be forgiven."

How do we do it? How do we forgive the big things which others have done? How do we forgive those who use and abuse us? How?

Well, the start is honestly facing ourselves as in debt. Deep debt. A 'million billion dollars' in debt. It starts with realizing that we do not love God as faithfully as He loves us. We are unfaithful to God--the prophets call it adultery. Within our hearts we hold all manner of ill will towards others, Jesus calls that murder. We lack sufficient gratitude and generosity. We are self-centered. Any checklist of sinful thoughts and desires condemns me and you as debtors. So, if we focus on repentance, every day, all day. Focus on sincere contrition and commit to robust amendment of life, that will keep us busy for the rest of our days. There just isn't time for us to focus on the sins and offenses of others. We can forgive graciously and gladly. Gladly? Yes, gladly, because the Lord wants us to be merciful to others and it is our one chance to actually do something pure and clean for God.

Secondly, we can embrace trust and faith. I found seven occasions in Genesis where it said that Joseph wept. Crying is misunderstood. [In Orthodox Psychotherapy, Bishop Hierotheos 143, 183]
The Ancient Fathers teach that in the process of theosis (God uniting with us) the nous (mind) is unified with the heart. "This union is confirmed by tears of compunction and a sweet sense of the love of God." (p143) "Tears are a way of life. Just as repentance and mourning are a way of life, so are the tears which pour from the repentant and broken heart." (183) Sometimes the tears are spiritual, but often they are literal. The Fathers say that 'the value of tears is great... a sign of a man reborn...a gift of self-knowledge and reproach....tears open the eyes of the soul...tears are a sign of life.

Joseph was horribly maltreated by his brothers, but his years of suffering had softened his soul. He confronted himself in the dark dungeon, facing death. One can assume that he learned of the inner workings of his own heart and soul. His nous/mind+eye was purified. He became pure of heart and he saw God. He tells the brothers, "what you intended for evil God intended for good." In other words, he believed that God had redeemed their sin and paradoxically used the brother they sought to destroy to save them and their families. Like the cross, God uses human evil for good. If we trust God and if we know God and if we allow ourselves to be purified our eyes will stream with tears. It is a constant teaching across Catholic, Orthodox, Evangelical and Pentecostal teaching. I see it every where: East and West, Ancient and Medieval...  Cry more. Weep more. Forgive more....

Thirdly, mercy is generated by knowing our place. Paul says, we accept others as they are, and do not go looking for reasons to be in conflict. "Who am I to pass judgment on someone else's servant?"  I am not in charge. I belong to the Lord, whether alive or dead, I am His possession. If God is forgiving another for their sin, who am I to raise an objection? If I trust God to be just, why do I fret over others? How can I have unity with God when His heart is love and mercy and mine is anger, fear, resentment and unforgiveness? How?

Has anyone really done anything to you that warrants eternal separation from God while you stew forever in anger over wounds suffered by others? What wound can Jesus not heal if we trust it to Him.

I am a sinner. I am a debtor. I am a servant of the Lord. I have been richly blessed a thousand times over without the ability to pay back the smallest portion.

The Lord is kind and merciful. The Lord blesses me endlessly. The Lord has forgiven me endless evil and I am shamed to stand in His presence, for what I have thought, what I have desired, and what I have done.

Jesus dead on the cross. My responsibility.
So if He asks in return that I love Him, trust Him and forgive others.
Well, I will try. How about you?

1 comment:

  1. Thank you for continuing to preach this radical, life-changing truth of God.

    ReplyDelete