Towards Sunday, September 14, 2014

Scripture:  Matthew 18:21-35
Sermon theme:  Why on earth forgive?

We have lots of questions about forgiveness.  Like, how to forgive.  Sometimes, whether to forgive.  We also wonder about when and where and who and what to forgive.

In the reading Peter wonders how many times to forgive.  (And I wonder how he feels about Jesus' answer.)

 

Questions about forgiveness plague us on a personal level as we negotiate relationships and the ins and outs of family life and friendship.  The questions also come up in the bigger arenas of society and politics, and the answers are rarely easy.

In the midst of all this, do you ever wonder about the why of forgiveness?  It's this question more than any other that the reading makes me think about.

The parable Jesus tells gives a harsh negative answer to why forgive: God will punish you if you don't.  This is paralleled in the answer many offer today: that when we don't forgive we only punish and imprison ourselves most of all.  In other words, we suffer when we don't forgive, so therefore we should forgive the other to avoid hurting ourselves.

But is there also a positive reason for forgiving?  The parable suggests one.  

In worship this week, we'll explore the notion suggested by this parable that forgiving another is often simply the most honest thing to do -- the best way we have of being honest to what we know about ourselves, the other, and God.