Forgiveness

In Matthew 6:14-15 we read

‘For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.’

An old beggar called  Jacques, used to sit outside a church in Paris after the time of the French Revolution. Jacques was gloomy and nasty only bowing his head a little to acknowledge someone who had put something in his little cup. 

Sometimes through his rags there could be seen a cross of gold which he wore around his neck.

One of the priests of the church would regularly pass the beggar and he always gave him something. Though Jacques did not know him personally he loved the priest because he was so kind.

One morning it was noticed that Jacques was no longer in his usual place outside the church.

The priest, thinking him ill, asked around to find out where he lived. He eventually found Jacques very ill lying on a dirty bed. "Ah" Jacques said, "Father, you are very good to come and see me but I don’t deserve it."

"Why do you say that  my son, do not you know that a Priest is the friend of all sufferers? “Besides, we are old acquaintances."

"O sir", said Jacques, "if you knew, you would not speak to me thus! I am a wretch! I am under a curse!" "

“Ah, my friend”, said the priest, “do not say such things. If you have done wrong, confess, repent: there is mercy for all repenting sinners."

"O, no, I shall never be forgiven!"

"Why? Do you not repent?"

"Indeed, indeed, I do! I have repented these thirty years; but still the curse is on me."

The Priest tried to console and encourage him; but it took a long time for Jacques to tell his story. Eventually he revealed the sin that lay so heavy on his conscience.

"Before the time of the great Revolution, I was a steward of a rich family. My employers were lovely people, the Count and Countess, their two daughters, and their son. I owed everything to them.

Then, the revolution and its’ reign of terror came. I denounced them in order to get their wealth.

The family were all condemned to death, except the little boy Paulin, who was too young. I heard the sentence; I saw them enter the cart; I saw their four heads fall! Monster that I was, monster that I am, since that moment I have not had a moment's peace.

This crucifix was my master's; this little gold cross-belonged to my mistress. O, father, pity me, pray for me; do not forsake me!"

The Priest rose from his knees, pale as death, and slowly approached the curtain. The Priest was in tears. "Jacques," he said, "let me hear your confession." When it was finished, he said, "As the messenger of Heaven, in the name of Him who forgives true penitents, for His sake, I forgive you the murder of my father, my mother, and my two sisters."

In the gospel of Matthew 18:21-22 we read, ‘Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven’.

Proverbs 18:19 says, ‘A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.’

There is another story about two sisters who had a disagreement that had waged for more than 20 years. Although they lived in the same house, their bitterness toward each other finally reached the point where they painted a line down the centre of the house, and each lived on her own side not speaking to the other sister.

They would sit in the same room, eat at the same table, and yet the line divided them.

They were each too proud to let go of their own view, their own bias, and their own hurt to be the first one to talk. And so, for more than 20 years, they lived within the walls of their own hate.

We smile when we hear this story, but at the same time, it kind of makes us feel a little  uncomfortable. Maybe we can think of an event in our own life that drewthe  battle lines.

Maybe something was said that caused another, or even ourselves, hurt.

Peter asked Jesus, "How many times should I forgive my brother?

“Seven times” To Peter, this was probably a generous figure! After all, seven times for the same offence does seem to be a lot of times. Forgiveness means totally release of hurt, anger, impatience, or bitterness towards a person. Seven times seemed to be a lot.

Jesus answered him, "No, not seven times, but rather forgive your brother seventy TIMES seven."

In other words, perfectly forgive every time. Why? Because God, for Christ's sake forgives us every single time we ask Him to.

Think and search your hearts. Is there someone who you are angry with for something that they did in the past? Whether it's 20 minutes ago, or 20 years, let go, because God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.

Think. Is there someone whom you know that you have offended and you have not asked his or her forgiveness? Go to them. Humble yourself. Tell them you were wrong, ask their forgiveness.

Start erasing the line that is between the sisters. Tear down the walls of the strong city. Break the bars that have separated you. Now is the time, now is the season. The hardest step to take is the first one.

Real forgiveness requires perseverance and that is never an easy thing with sinners.

Sinners, and we have everyone in mind now, let us down. They do things that make us desire to withhold the forgiveness we have offered in the past and exact the revenge or wallow in the hurt that we feel we deserve. Now we migh tto do this, it is not however the example left to us by Christ.

Christ is forgiving to us, time and again, and the wonder of His grace to us should cause us to persevere all the more with those whom we struggle to forgive or to continue to forgive.

Years ago an inhuman slave master was beating a slave with a lacerated whip. He said to the half-dead slave, "What can Jesus Christ do for you now?” replied the slave, "Master He teaches me to forgive you."

Father, thank You for your perfect forgiveness. Thank You for Your example. Thanks that you are willing to live in me and urge me to make things right with my brothers and sisters around me. Lord, I thank You mostly for giving me Your power to have a humble heart. God, I ask that You would show me when I have built a wall of bitterness. I ask that you would help me to use the wrecking ball of humbleness. Father, forgive my sins, for Christ's sake that I appear before You without blame. I love You Lord.

Amen