There are things in life that are obvious. One of the very obvious factors is that when we talk about forgiveness we know how difficult it is to forgive. Whether the offense is serious or trivial, forgiveness is difficult. Yet, it is a theme that runs thru the whole history of creation.
It is God's consistent effort to offer us forgiveness. From the disobedience in the Garden, the disregard for the written commandments, the persecution of the prophets, to the crucifixion of God's Son, God does not despise us or give up on us. That's a brief history of the Bible in 20 seconds!!
For the Christian church, the season of Lent begins on Feb. 22. Having grown up in the Midwest, Lent was and is a time of deepened spiritual introspection, a period of preparation and penitence, the season of the soul and the sacred story. It is God revealing himself as wanting nothing but to forgive us, or as a friend said: "Everything boils down either to our being unable to forgive others, or feeling guilty and not being able to forgive ourselves."
At one point in Tolstoy's novel, "War and Peace," Pierre are forced to face himself and make an honest analysis of his life. And he speaks for all of us when he says, "Yes, Lord ... I have sinned, but I have several excellent excuses!!" It's unusually relevant for us today. All around us, whether partisan politics, people's thoughts and actions, spewing hatred, despising others, or ignoring truth, sin abounds.
I'm reminded of an old play entitled "Construction." People are given a large pile of building materials. There are no plans so they try to decide what to build.... swimming pool? Clubhouse? In the distance, they hear voices, so in fear, they decide to build a wall. In the midst of their building the wall, a stranger arrives and is carrying blueprints ... blueprints to show what they were to build. He tells them that they were not to be building a wall ... rather a bridge. A bridge to bring people together, not a wall to shut them out.
Hearing this, they become enraged saying "Who does he think he is?" They shout hostilities and proceed to crucify the young builder. After some silence, one of the characters says: "We must learn... We can't go on crucifying the truth forever."
An old play but so relevant today. We are still building walls – walls constructed of fear and pride and anxiety and prejudice and closed minds, walls that separate people, walls that fence some in and shut others out. We are still trying to crucify the truth. And yes, we need to seek forgiveness for ourselves and offer forgiveness to others. Yes, build bridges!
The magnificent prayer of St. Francis sums it all up for us: "Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy.
Oh, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console, to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love .... for .... it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning, that we are pardoned; It is in dying, that we are born to eternal life."
Yes ... forgive others as God forgives you. When will we ever learn? We can't go on crucifying the truth forever!
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