Sermon: Forgiveness.
“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”
Forgiveness is at the center of our Christian Faith.
Forgiveness is the breath or the heartbeat of Christianity, as it was the very breath and heartbeat of Christ himself.
Forgiveness is such a big word. Forgiveness is such a lifechanging and life sustaining word. Forgiveness is both past, presence and future. Forgiveness is at the center of all of our readings today.
Sunday after Sunday:
We confess our faith in the power of forgiveness in the words of Apostles Creed: We believe in the Holy spirit, the holy christian church, the communion of saints and the forgiveness of sins.”
We pray our Lord’s prayer “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sing against us.”
We celebrate Holy Communion at a common human table where all are invited, all are welcome, and all are forgiven.
Desmond Tutu: Forgiveness says you are given another chance to make a new beginning.”
As I several times have quote the wonderful conversational book “The Book of Joy” with conversation between Dalai Lama and Demond Tutu, - I will point at yet another Desmond Tutu book “The Book of forgiving. The fourfold path for healing ourselves and our world.” Archbishop Tutu, Nobel Prize winner, Chair of the Elders, and chair of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, along with his daughter the reverend Mpho Tutu, offer a manual on forgiveness: on how to be capable of healing and transforming.
Forgiveness is a central word of Christianity, and Desmond Tutu and his daughter are Christians, but in their book, they present forgiveness as something universal human and as a scientific and phycological phenomenon with proven positive effects.
In a Danish Perspective, with the words of the Danish Theologian P.G. Logstrup, forgiveness, trust and compassion are all universal human precultural sovereign expression – suvervaene livsytringer. Forgiveness is a deep phycological human emotion, needed in our human relationship. And needed in our human divine relationship too.
The Christian Gospel is all about healing and reconciliation and restoration of what is broken. Desmond Tutu played a major role as the Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa in the aftermath of Apartheid. Together with Nelson Mandela the prediction of chaos, bloodbath, revenge and retribution, the new nation chose to tread the difficult path of confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Tutu said that there would have been “no future in South Africa without forgiveness. The anger and the revenge would have been their destruction. Individually and collectively. “
Nelson Mandela: As I walked out the door toward my freedom, I knew that if I did not leave all the anger, hatred and bitterness behind that I would still be in prison.”
This is such a good quote by a man of greatness, integrity, and insight.
Forgiveness is a path away from imprisonment by anger, revenge, bitterness, and hatred. Anger, bitterness, and hatred can keep us imprisoned and incapable of escaping or breaking that circle of revenge and anger.
Each of us has a deep deep need to forgive and to be forgiven. And Tutu and his daughter list four important steps to healing: 1. admitting the wrong and acknowledging the harm, 2. Telling one’s story and witnessing the anguish, 3. Asking forgiveness and granting forgiveness. 4. Renewing or releasing the relationship.
Forgiveness is hard work. Sometimes it even feels like an impossible task. Human impossible.
We heard the heartbreaking end to the story about Joseph and his brothers. How their jealousy, their evil deeds and deceits did have dire implication not only for Joseph who was sold as a slave and taken from his family, - but also for the old father and the brothers. And we heard of the moment of forgiveness and a chance for a new beginning.
We all know about heartbreaking stories in our families or among friends, where forgiveness does not seem possible – where cold bitterness, silent treatment, resentful remarks makes any new beginning or any reconciliation possible. And it is such a waste of time and life, we think. Holding grudges, counting grievances, and keeping bad blood pulsing through the veins, are destructive to any possible change or common future.
We heard in todays reading the heartbreaking moment of forgiveness and a possible new beginning, not by forgetting, but by letting go and moving on with hope, understanding, forgiveness and trust.
Nelson Mandela: “Courageous people do not fear forgiving for the sake of peace.”
Every hand reaches out in forgiveness, is a hand working to create peace in the world. Our personal wellbeing and the wellbeing our our society and the world, depends on hands reaching out in forgiveness and reconciliation. Which is why Jesus preached and lived forgiveness. Which is why Paul preached forgiveness in the congregations. Which is why we pray again and again: “Forgive us our sins and we forgive those who sin against us.”
As many of you know I am an avid reader. I love to read and dive into imaginary stories of great fiction, history, passion, and truth.
The best stories move us. The best stories stir our emotions, change our views and perspectives. The best books teach us valuable lessons of life. The best books make us ponder and wonder, makes us reflect on life and humanity. Some of the best books I have read this year – and come to think about most of the best books I have ever read, - is about forgiveness.
Forgiveness, Reconciliation. About finding the way from confining bitterness, hurtful deceits, or inflicted suffering to deliberating making room for reconciliation or forgiveness.
“American Dirt. “by Jeanine Cummins is a moving and heartbreaking story about a mother who must flee Acapulco and the Cartels, to safe her and her little sons’ life. Their journey, their run, from Mexico to US, describes it all: grief, loss, inhumanity, fear, - but also kindness, love, strength, and forgiveness.
“The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah about two courageous sister during the Second World War describes the horrible evilness of war – but also the moving strength of kindness, compassion, and forgiveness.
“The great alone.” Also, by Kristin Hannah and epic story about human frailty and resilience, about deceit and forgiveness.
“Lord, how often should I forgive?”
This week’s passage from the Gospel of Matthew includes Jesus’ best-known instructions on forgiveness. When Peter asks how many times “another member of the church” is to be forgiven, Jesus insists that forgiving someone seven times is not enough. The offending member must be forgiven 77 times. The number seems staggering but communicates clearly that forgiveness is to be an essential part of Christian communal life.
To illustrate his point, Jesus tells a story. He tells the story of a king who is owed a debt by his slaves. Now when the king expects to be paid, one slave is not able to pay—and as a result is to be sold along with his wife and children. The man pleads with the king and asks to be given more time. The king has mercy on him and forgives the debt completely—but then the slave does not extend the same mercy to a fellow slave who owes him a debt. When the king finds out, he reinstates the original debt and so, Jesus said, “ so our heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Forgive your brother and sister from your heart. Seven times, 77 times, 499 times. Forgiveness is hard work. Relentless work in our human relationships and in our global world.
Sometimes we need a Truth & reconciliation commission in our families, don’t we?
Maybe we should establish a Truth & Reconciliation Commission as a country in these divided times of Pandemic, lockdown, election, demonstration, politics, and hateful voices?
“Lord, how often should I forgive?”
We should forgive often… we should not count how many times we forgive or how many times we are forgiven. We do not count how many breaths we take or how many heartbeats a day…. We should forgive often…and count the blessings of being forgiven often ourselves.
As Martin Luther King Jr. says
“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude.”
O Lord of all the living
Both banished and restored
Compassionate, forgiving
and ever caring Lord,
Grant now that our transgressing
our faithlessness may cease.
Stretch our your hand in blessing,
in pardon and in peace. Amen