Can we always forgive wrongs?

Epistle: Philippians. Chap. 1 vv. 3-11
(Paul's reasons for thanks)

Gospel: Matthew Chap. 18 vv. 21-35
(The Challenge of Forgiveness)

It is highly likely, indeed almost inevitable that in the coming hours, or days that I am going to get something wrong; in thought, by something I say, an action or inaction. A lapse of foresight, an unconscious action followed by a realisation that I have in some way offended or hurt another person. I may not be immediately aware of the wrong doing, but either I eventually get reprimanded (told off) or receive other indications that I was in the wrong.

Maybe while driving, forgetting something promised, maybe whilst just doing routine things.

I would hope to have the chance to at least apologise. Sorry is an easy word to trip off our tongues. Do I really mean it at the time? In the eyes of God have I really repented?

We do something wrong, we hope that we will be forgiven. A fresh start made, the relationship can continue.

As we recite the words of the Confession soon in this service we call to mind things we have got wrong and ask for God’s forgiveness so that our relationship with Him may continue and strengthen.

However, what if we are the the person who has been wronged or offended by someone else.? How ready and able are we to forgive them, to accept their apologies to us?

In today’s gospel passage from Matthew, we hear how impetuous Peter questioned Jesus about forgiving others and Jesus’ reply to him with the subsequent parable of the Unforgiving Servant.

Jesus’ first answer to Peter’s question is to stress that forgiveness should always be offered to those who wrong us. (7,being a perfect number in Jewish understanding). The following parable enlarges on this by pointing up the example that if we plead forgiveness from God for our wrongs, our debts to him, we ought to treat those who wrong us, are in debt to us, in a similar way. We also need to be able to forgive.

I am reminded of some recent examples of forgiveness, not in response to multiple sins or wrongs as such, but more to the scale of the wrong.

With Remembrance Sunday and the season of Remembrance still fresh on our minds, it is quite a coincidence that this passage is set for today’s reading.

Back in 1987 during the IRA campaign a bomb exploded at a Remembrance Sunday service at Enniskellen in Northern Ireland. 11 people were killed including Marie Wilson, daughter of Gordon Wilson. He was wounded but survived, Marie died while they held hands under the rubble. What was his response to such an awful tragedy?

Forgiveness; “ I bear no ill will. Dirty talk is not going to bring her back.” A remarkably courageous statement. How might we react to a similar event?

More recently on the 2nd of October this year a gunman killed young children at an Amish school in Pennsylvania USA. The widow of the that gunman is quoted as saying how she and her family were overwhelmed by the forgiveness and grace shown to them by the Amish Community. How that they had provided help and healing, not seeking revenge for the terrible tragedy.

Reconciliation and healing can arise out of such acts of forgiveness. Refusal to forgive, resentment and seeking of revenge lead to escalation of wrongs. There are numerous examples of this, almost daily, in the news.

The harsh message at the end of this passage is that God may well punish us for failing to forgive others, made in his likeness, as we would hope for Him to forgive us.

As we say in the Lord’s Prayer; ‘Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.’ Even in his intense suffering on the Cross Jesus was able to ask God to forgive those who were torturing and killing him.

Paul also writes to the Colossian Christians; if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other, just as the Lord has forgiven you, you must also forgive.

 

Amen