The readings for this Sunday (Pentecost 13) - Gen. 50:15-21; Rom.14:1-12; Matt. 18:21-35 were all so relevant for 9/11!
We have in the first reading the hard issue of forgiveness in a long standing family feud; with good reason, Joseph's brothers wanted to kill him. In the second reading we see the judgmentalism expressed by some enforcing their preference in an accusatory manner over others. In the Gospel reading we have Jesus' own view on how many times we should forgive.
Put all of that together on the very day around the world when we remember 9/11 and reflect on our actions since that day - revenge for an entire decade. It has been reported recently that the war on terror has cost $3000 Billion! What a colossal investment in hate disguised under political self justification. Now what would our world look like if we had practiced repentance and forgiveness? The middle east is a war zone of brothers fighting each other, just as Europe was for most of the last century.
Perhaps forgiveness starts at home - as it has always been. If it doesn't start there then it can have global ramifications. Think about the prayer that Jesus taught us ... 'forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.'
One definition of forgiveness that I have heard is this: when you have every right to hold something against someone else, but choose not to act on it. The pain of wrongs, injustice, destruction is very real. On the cross Jesus chose to take the pain, and not act on the justifiable judgment on our sin. Thanks be to God! That is grace ... How gracious are we with our actions?
Rev.'D
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