Forgiven, forgive
This morning’s gospel is at once extremely helpful and extremely demanding. Peter asks how many times he must forgive, “a member of the Church.” Jesus answers, “not seven times, but seventy times seven.” That doesn’t mean 490 times. It is an old Biblical metaphor used in Genesis to describe unlimited vengeance. Jesus uses it to emphasize unlimited forgiveness. This standard is absolute. And, like everything else Jesus says and does, this has everything to do with the Kingdom of God.
Then Jesus describes forgiveness with this parable. The slave has racked up an impossible debt, roughly 160,000 years’ worth of wages. (That’s a long time; 160,000 years ago, humans were using stone tools and fire, and when they had neanderthals in the neighborhood it wasn’t a metaphor.)
Read More
Reconciled
This morning’s gospel includes on one level the very best advice we have on conflict resolution. The basic principles of going first to the person directly, then involving two or three witnesses, then taking it to the community make perfect sense in any context. That’s truly helpful because we are so regularly in conflict. Let’s face it, people are very difficult to get along with – not you, of course, but those other people. You know who they are.
The conflict could be within our families, in our workplaces, our neighborhoods or really in any context. The idea of trying to work it out first one-on-one saves everyone trouble, and avoids any embarrassment as well. Including two or three witnesses also keeps it pretty well contained, and helps to ensure that people are hearing each other clearly. Finally, taking it to the community as a last step offers a chance for the issue to be finally resolved.
Read More
His Cross, Your Cross
This week we’ve got to do a “Previously on Good Shepherd” like they do on TV shows. Those of you streaming this at home can skip ahead a couple of minutes. (Just a moment, I’m buffering.)
Last week we joined Jesus and his disciples at a pagan shrine in Caesarea Philippi where Jesus asked them who they say he is. Peter responded, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus gives Peter a gold star for the day and says that is the rock upon which he will build his Church, and through the Church the Kingdom of God will take shape in the world.
Read More
