March 27 Lenten Devotional "How Many Times to Forgive?"

OPENING PRAYER. . .Loving God, Creator of all that is, here I am--today in this place that you have given me, with all the senses you have given me. Help me to use them to experience you on a deeper level. May I experience you all around me, open me to know more of your ways and know that your goodness surrounds me. Thank you for this time to be with you and to just listen. Amen

LISTEN. . . Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”  Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." (Matthew 18:21-23)

CONSIDER. . . .In 2006, in rural Pennsylvania, a man barricaded himself in an Amish Schoolhouse and shot and killed 5 young girls and then himself. Less than 48 hours later, the grandfather of one of the slain girls urged the community to forgive the killer. The community itself embraced the widow of the killer including sharing monetary donations with her.  This story of the Amish response to such a horrific act is a sign of God's amazing grace at work within a community; healing broken relationship, effecting harmony, creating peace and restoring wholeness.

Peter's idea to forgive seven times sounds incredibly generous until Jesus responds. Jesus goes far beyond solely increasing the number of times to forgive. Jesus' response is about the nature of forgiveness--deep and radical Gospel living.

SO WHAT. . . Whoever counts has not forgiven. . . This kind of forgiving is beyond all calculations and is possible only through God's amazing grace. During the Lenten season, we seek mercy and forgiveness from God but it is also a time for us to be reconciled with our brothers and sisters. Not seven times. . . but beyond counting.  Who is it in your life that you are struggling to forgive?  What wrongs are struggling to let go of? During this Lenten season can you express the kind of forgiveness that Jesus talks about?

PRAYER. . . Dear God, forgive me for my transgressions and help me to forgive those who have wronged me in my eyes. Help me to show mercy and Christ's compassion in this broken world. May I share the kind of forgiveness that you taught Peter. Amen.