Some Thoughts on Forgiveness

This Sunday is Christ the King Sunday, which is the last Sunday of the liturgical year. The gospel lesson is Luke's account of the crucifixion

There are many things at work in the crucifixion story thematically. This week I have reflected on what the crucifixion story suggests about forgiveness--God's willingness to forgive us, and our willingness to forgive others. Notice in the crucifixion story that Christ forgave those around him that were responsible for the crucifixion, and offered forgiveness to one of the thieves crucified next to him.

Forgiveness is the process of concluding resentment, anger, and indignation at those that have harmed us. Forgiveness is an effort that we make within ourselves to move on from those actions that have brought us harm, to be at peace, and to return ourselves to the full time work of being God's people. We cannot hold onto resentment, anger, and indignation and be at peace with ourselves, with others, or with God.

In the crucifixion story, God reveals that as God's children, we have the power to forgive even when we are in extreme circumstances of pain. Through God's Spirit, God can give us the power to forgive those who have harmed us so that we can move on.

The world is full of those that hurt themselves and others. Whether they are held accountable here and now is a matter between themselves and our society's mechanisms of accountability. Whether they seek God's forgiveness is a matter between themselves and God, and whether God forgives them is in God's hands alone, not ours. Let's leave civil and criminal judgment in the hands of judges and civil authorities. Let's leave the only judgment that matters--God's judgment, in God's hands, and move beyond our resentment, anger, and indignation and be at peace.