The 10th Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 14B), Aug. 13, 2006

BCP: Deut. 8:1-10; Psalm 34 or 34:1-8; Eph. 4:(25-29) 30 – 5:2; John 6:37-51

RCL: 2 Sam. 18:5-9, 15, 31-33 or 1 Kings 19:4-8; Psalm 130 or Psalm 34:1-8; Eph. 4:25 – 5:2; John 6:35, 41-51

Forgiveness is essential for living Christian faith, and reconciliation is vital for the church’s health. St. Paul acknowledges there are times and situations that provoke anger, but he advises the Ephesian Christians not to sin, not to let the sun go down on their anger, and not to make room for the devil (Eph. 4:26-27).

Anger can poison a Christian’s life, and the damage can spread through the community if the wound is not healed. Anger carried over to the next day can lead to grudges, resentments, and entrenched hostilities that persist. Anger can break down communication and divide the community as people stop listening to each other or treating each other with respect.

St. Paul urges the Ephesians to put away all bitterness, wrath, and anger, along with slander and malice. This can destroy what is most important in their lives, and leave them with nothing more than the broken shards of their resentments. Paul urges the Ephesians to live in love instead, to imitate God, and to be willing to sacrifice, “as Christ loved us and gave himself for us” (Eph. 5:2). Being Christians can mean sacrificing anger and grudges and personal vindication to share God’s love. Paul tells the Ephesians to be tenderhearted and kind to each other, and to forgive each other, as they have been forgiven by God in Christ.

We voice our commitment to forgiveness every time we say the Lord’s Prayer, and we are reminded that there is a connection between our own forgiveness by God and our forgiveness of others. It may also help to remember that we hope to spend eternity in the body of Christ, with all the members of the body of Christ, including those who need our forgiveness. The “unforgivable sin,” sinning against the Holy Spirit, can be understood as a refusal to receive the means of forgiveness. God’s forgiveness is freely offered, but never forced. If the door is locked from the inside, it will not be kicked in, although a persistent audible knocking will probably be heard.

There are many pointed reminders of the need for forgiveness. A Christian hermit in the desert was summoned to pass judgment on a brother, but he carried a leaky basket of sand on his back as he went to the meeting. When asked about it, he explained that his sins were running out behind him unknown to him, but he came to judge another. Then the others forgave the brother who was being judged. St. Catherine of Siena states that Judas’ gravest sin was despair that his betrayal of Jesus was greater than divine mercy.

Look It Up

See the prayer “For the Human Family,” which asks God to “take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth…” (BCP, p. 815).

Think About It

What happens if forgiveness is refused? Who do you need to forgive? Whose forgiveness do you need to receive?

Next Sunday

The 11th Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 15B), Aug. 20, 2006

BCP: Prov. 9:1-6; Psalm 147 or 34:9-14; Eph. 5:15-20; John 6:53-59

RCL: 1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14 or Prov. 9:1-6; Psalm 111 or Psalm 34:9-14; Eph. 5:15-20; John 6:51-58