FRIDAY, June 18 (Bernard Mizeki)

Matthew 18:21-35. Then Peter came and said to him, "Lord, if another member of the church 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.

Resentments boomerang. A harsh word may hurt you once, but each time you recall it, you stab yourself.

Resentment blocks faith in God, for unforgiveness cannot understand and accept forgiveness. It mocks the Lord's Prayer. Do you pray to forgive but never forget, to forgive but never to want to see the offender again?

Jesus on the cross prayed, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Can anyone's wrongs match those he forgave?

How can one forgive great wrong? Prayer for the offender is one remedy. God often gives understanding that changes hatred to pity. As the French say, "To understand all is to forgive all." Or pray for God's spirit of forgiveness.

A young woman, deeply wronged by a friend, forgave but could not get rid of the hurt. She asked God to put his forgiveness in her heart. Then she had a dream of a dark well in which a tiny shaft of light spread until all darkness was gone. When she awoke no hurt remained. (1943)

PRAY for the Diocese of Dogura (Papua New Guinea)

Ps 88 * 91, 92; Numbers 13:1-3, 21-30; Romans 2:25-3:8

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.

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Illuminating

Jun 18, 2010 at 8:49 am

Written by Sam Dowding,

The writers of reflections dating from the 1939 to 1948 period consistently amaze me. This was a period when hatred of the enemy was the norm, and certainly justifiable. Yet these writers stood like beacons calling us to love and forgiveness. Resentment and hatred corrode my own being. This message resonates even today, and if we can forgive our WWII enemies, there seems no reason why we cannot do the same today. I thank God for messengers like today's writer.

By coincidence, . . .

Jun 18, 2010 at 10:11 am

Written by Mary C.,

. . . Just last evening I read a short magazine article that contained the sentence "But I've discovered that nothing feels as satisfying as a grudge well nursed If I had the writer's email address, I'd send him today's meditation!

But a question: When you pray for people who have injured you, whatdo you pray for?

...

Jun 18, 2010 at 11:31 am

Written by Mary kier,

Perhaps an answer to you question? Just pray for them and lift the prayer to God. I think the actual movement towards prayer and forgiveness is what we can do. Sometimes we have to wait
for God to show us the way.

In response to Mary C

Jun 18, 2010 at 1:15 pm

Written by Sam Dowding,

I ask God to forgive them, and to give me the will and strength to do the same. I pray for them to see the error of their ways and for me to understand their perspectives in case, although I am aggrieved, I may really be the one at fault. Although the Psalms give us examples of prayers that comprise pleas for both good and ill, I prefer to think of prayer as only for good outcomes, leaving the negative pleadings for curses, which I pray I will never want to pronounce on anyone! God Bless!

...

Jun 18, 2010 at 2:31 pm

Written by Pamela,

While it has been possible to forgive the hurts I have received, it is impossible to completely forget them. Human memory does not work that way, for anything, even new hurts, can trigger the old ones. The 1943 writer of today's meditation asks, "Do you pray to forgive but never forget, to forgive but never to want to see the offender again?" There may be circumstances when not seeing the offender again is the better outcome, such as in cases of abuse or assault. An offense can be forgiven many times, but it may not be possible (or even advisable) to live with an abusive individual. Forgiveness is both beautiful and difficult; it is a response to hurt that is often more complex than we realize, and which, for that reason, should be taken very seriously. I am grateful that we have Christ as the fullest example of forgiveness while nonetheless acknowledging the stru*gle forgiveness entails.

...

Jun 18, 2010 at 8:45 pm

Written by Sheri Christi,

My mother stru*gles with all the Japanese cars and electronics because of her army experience, so Sam's words are true for her as well. It seems to me like the issue is more complex than just forgiveness because people can have very abusive patterns of behavior that will continue if no one insists they behave better. Statistics show that emotional intelligence isn't particularly widespread. I know it is a big learning curve for me and most people I've met. This topic may be the most complex aspect of Jesus' teachings.

...

Jun 18, 2010 at 10:00 pm

Written by Daniel ,

Mary, I pray that I may forgive as I have been forgiven.
Lord make possible by your grace what is impossible by my nature.

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