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Posts Tagged ‘forgiveness’

Betrayal for Everyone

Posted in Ordinary Time, tagged , , , , , , , on August 5, 2009| Leave a Comment »

John 13:21
After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.”

And Judas didn’t bat an eye. He saw the whole thing differently than everyone else. In his mind, it wasn’t betrayal. He was helping move things along. He thought he had the “big picture.” He thought the stars were aligned and Jesus needed to step up his game.

Can you imagine, with this mindset, what he must have thought when Jesus turned to him at table and said, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” [vs 27b] He probably viewed that as the “go-ahead.” Jesus was going to take the challenge and show everyone. He would reveal himself. He would become their king. He would overthrow the Romans. On and on his mind would have clamored.

Haven’t we all, at some point or another, justified our own actions in the same way? We convince ourselves that our choices are the right choices for the moment. From adultery to lying to theft and more, our reasoning allows it. In reality every sin is a type of betrayal against the other. If we commit adultery, we betray a spouse; if we lie, we betray the trust of the person receiving that lie; if we steal, we betray the owner… and so on.

Confronting the truth of betrayal means confronting ourselves and our motives. Betrayal is all about “me.” Judas ran from his betrayal and killed himself. This may have been his greatest sin of all. A betrayer can be redeemed but only with confession.

I have betrayed and it grieves my spirit today. I call on the love and grace of Christ Jesus to wash me in forgiveness. My only hope.

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“Our” Father

Posted in Ordinary Time, tagged , , , on July 22, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Luke 11:2a
And He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father Who is in heaven…” [amplified]

In recent years, I have been a little resistant to praying “our” father during the Lord’s prayer. It just seemed less personal so I started changing all the pronouns to the first person (My Father … etc.). I enjoyed that intimacy and wrapped myself in the cocoon of His promises.

Today, I had a small epiphany. I decided to pray the Lord’s prayer on behalf of my family and of course, by doing that, I returned to the traditional pronouns. But then, I thought, I could also pray on behalf of my neighbors who may not know this prayer… or I could pray on behalf of my neighborhood, or my town, or my state… and off I went and the realization hit: the “Our Father” is an intercessory prayer for the human race and for the ages. There is no “religion” or belief that cannot embrace the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. Our “father” is God and that is a loving relationship that God wants for us and by entering into this relationship and acknowledging God, we can ask for (and receive) provision, forgiveness, and protection.

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.”

[Luke 11:2-4] Amen. So be it.

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Lying as a Native Tongue

Posted in Ordinary Time, tagged , , , on July 7, 2009| Leave a Comment »

John 8:44b
“…When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

There is nothing good that comes from a lie. I know this. And yet, how often have I exaggerated a tale in the name of entertainment or passed good gossip with a tiny embellishment.

I stand convicted. And now, I must expose this dark area of my soul. I am ashamed. I have been speaking in my “native tongue.” I have used the language of the enemy.

Lying, particularly the small lies and avoidances and omissions, comes too easily. I also see it in my kids. It pains me when I just “know” they are only telling a half-truth which makes it a lie. But am I any better really?

Lord, forgive me. Guard my lips this day. Guard my mouth. Guard my soul.

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Letter of the Law

Posted in Ordinary Time, tagged , , , , , , , on June 25, 2009| Leave a Comment »

John 8:4-5
“…and [they] said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”

This is a very familiar passage from scripture where Jesus thwarts the efforts of the teachers of the law and the Pharisees who want to trap him into speaking against and/or breaking the law. If they could catch him publicly, they could justify arresting him, etc.

They probably didn’t know that Jesus had already said and taught: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” [Matthew 5:17] But he was a teacher, a rabbi, who was teaching a “new way.”

Jesus never denied that the woman caught in adultery should be stoned. It was, indeed, the law. He was known for his words of mercy, grace and forgiveness and they expected him to “forgive her.” Instead, this became an excellent example of how the law can look through the lens of mercy. Jesus tells the crowd that the punishment can begin, but should begin with that person who is without sin, that person who has not broken any of the laws. There were none. The crowd dispersed and the letter of the law was not exacted. The woman was given a chance to change… Jesus did not release her without first telling her to “leave your life of sin.”

For me, one implication here is that her sin would eventually kill her if she persisted… the law would be fulfilled.

But the greater message is that many of us are still in a crowd looking, with righteous indignation, for sinners to get their just reward. We must be more careful; the fulfillment of the law may look different than we expect.

Jesus put sins and lawbreaking into one great big pile. One sin was no worse than another. Breaking a “little law” was no different than breaking a “big law.”

Today, help me see others with the eyes of Jesus. Help me think first before I act. Help me to consider more carefully the behavior of others and ask myself, “how would I hope to be treated” if I was doing the same thing? Help me temper my tendency to judge others with the mercy of Christ.

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Peter Wept

Posted in Lent, tagged , , , , , , , , on April 6, 2009| 1 Comment »

Matthew 26:74-75
Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

In Matthew’s version of this story, Peter is confronted with the truth of himself and weeps; a few lines later, Judas confronts himself and commits suicide. Both men felt remorse. Both were overwhelmed by their actions but only one survives. Peter is not mentioned again individually by Matthew, except as within the group of eleven disciples who return to Galilee to see Jesus ascend. But in Luke’s gospel, we see Peter among the gathered disciples and then he rushes to the empty tomb to see it for himself.

Here’s my point: Peter wept when he saw himself in stark reality. Both Luke and Matthew say he wept bitterly which implies how difficult it was for him to accept the truth. But Peter’s response, his next step, was to return to community instead of isolating himself.

When we see the truth of ourselves, our first tendency is to hide and go it alone. But that is not the best way. Isolation is just the beginning of a downward spiral into depression and hopelessness. Nothing we have done or said is beyond surrender to God. Forgiveness is made real by sharing that painful confession with other believers. It is the body of Christ that puts hands and feet on forgiveness and renewal.

I am working my way back into community, into koinonia. Will there be open arms?

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Judgment Without Mercy

Posted in Lent, tagged , , on April 2, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Luke 6:37
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

I have to thank my new friend, Liz B, for this phrase, “judgment without mercy.” It captures the essence of what it means to “judge not.” There is such a difference between judging and discernment, but so often we fall into the judging mode. I know I do. Some would say, “but there is right and wrong and it’s appropriate to “judge” between them.” And I would ask you to keep in mind the mercy.

It is the quality of mercy that tempers the mind. It is the heart that that softens the mind. It is mercy that is the foundation for forgiveness. It is the spirit who reminds us of our sins. Oh yes, we all make mistakes and when we do, we are often deserving of the consequences (sometimes dire) … but isn’t it mercy that we count on? And aren’t we fortunate to love a merciful God? In James 2:13b, he says, “…mercy triumphs over judgment.” Thanks be to God.

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