Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them!!! What an accusation leveled against Jesus --tax collectors...they worked for the “oppressors,” they worked for Caesar and, as if it wasn't enough that they worked for “the Empire” on top of that, they cheated their own people by collecting more tax than was required by Caesar who was squeezing the very life blood out of their own people. Let’s be clear, the accusation was not wrong: the people Jesus was in fact welcoming and eating with were sinners. That was not a misrepresentation or a twisting of the facts.
This is the context of the story of the “Prodigal Son” or perhaps a better name, the story of the “Lavish Parent”. It is about the magnanimous and unrestrained nature of God’s forgiveness! And to be honest, it’s all a bit absurd! Who could seriously be convinced to forgive those who have abused them, cheated them and caused them more misery than anyone else could imagine?
But there it is! That is precisely what Jesus is suggesting! Jesus is claiming that -- no matter how great our sin, no matter how far we have strayed from goodness and kindness -- we are all redeemable, all forgivable and all loved by God! But, make no mistake about it, it is in no way giving us “a pass” on reprehensible and sinful behavior! It is really speaking of the possibility of transformation and redemption through the power of forgiveness! We've seen it in South Africa, we've seen it in Kosovo, and we've seen it in the lives of thousands of nameless victims who have chosen to forgive their perpetrators of unspeakable atrocities and crimes!
How is it possible to forgive those who have raped, murdered and destroyed the lives of innocent people?
Forgiveness does not in any way imply a lack of guilt...but rather it is about refusing to allow the perpetrator to continue to inflict pain and suffering upon those they have abused.
As long as our anger and rage control our emotions we are not free of our bondage to them!
The violent need to be brought to “justice” and to pay for their sins, but true justice is not revenge!
Forgiveness ultimately frees the victim from the clutches of the perpetrator. It in no way says, “it didn't happen”. It in no way says, “it didn't matter”. It in no ways says, “they are not guilty”.
So what does this all mean for us as disciples of Jesus Christ? Jesus was so kind and forgiving...but how are we to forgive those who are guilty of unspeakable sin? How do we forgive those who wound us and hurt us and the ones we love?
Jesus clearly states that it is “Godly” to forgive. But that in no way means that we do not stand up against violence! It does not mean that we fall silent in the face of violence nor turn our back on those seeking justice in the wake of violence...but we do not do it in a spirit of vengeance but rather in the spirit of true justice.
How do we forgive those who are guilty of violence, especially when it impacts us personally...when it is done in our name or in the name of our church, or in the name of our country? As you can see, it is not so easy...do we really believe in the transformative reality of forgiveness?
How can we contemplate forgiveness in the midst of this hideous war being waged against the people of Ukraine, as we see each evening on the news the unbelievable level of devastation of their lives, their land and forcing them into fleeing their country?
Let us continue to hold the people of Ukraine in our thoughts and prayers. Let us pray for a swift end to the war being waged by Russia against the people of Ukraine and pray that the U.S. and other countries of the world to increase their combined efforts and intercede to bring about a peaceful end to this war, and all wars being waged around the world.
As we reflect this week on the Gospel story of “The Prodigal Son”, we must remember that the forgiveness of which Jesus speaks of holds the power to transform the hearts and lives of both the victim and the perpetrator. God’s forgiveness is boundless and is freely lavished upon us because we are the beloved of God.
And so, this week let us reflect on...who am I called to forgive? What might I personally, and we as a nation, need to be forgiven for? How do we forgive and at the same time demand true justice?
Lenten Blessings,
Fr Tim
This is the context of the story of the “Prodigal Son” or perhaps a better name, the story of the “Lavish Parent”. It is about the magnanimous and unrestrained nature of God’s forgiveness! And to be honest, it’s all a bit absurd! Who could seriously be convinced to forgive those who have abused them, cheated them and caused them more misery than anyone else could imagine?
But there it is! That is precisely what Jesus is suggesting! Jesus is claiming that -- no matter how great our sin, no matter how far we have strayed from goodness and kindness -- we are all redeemable, all forgivable and all loved by God! But, make no mistake about it, it is in no way giving us “a pass” on reprehensible and sinful behavior! It is really speaking of the possibility of transformation and redemption through the power of forgiveness! We've seen it in South Africa, we've seen it in Kosovo, and we've seen it in the lives of thousands of nameless victims who have chosen to forgive their perpetrators of unspeakable atrocities and crimes!
How is it possible to forgive those who have raped, murdered and destroyed the lives of innocent people?
Forgiveness does not in any way imply a lack of guilt...but rather it is about refusing to allow the perpetrator to continue to inflict pain and suffering upon those they have abused.
As long as our anger and rage control our emotions we are not free of our bondage to them!
The violent need to be brought to “justice” and to pay for their sins, but true justice is not revenge!
Forgiveness ultimately frees the victim from the clutches of the perpetrator. It in no way says, “it didn't happen”. It in no way says, “it didn't matter”. It in no ways says, “they are not guilty”.
So what does this all mean for us as disciples of Jesus Christ? Jesus was so kind and forgiving...but how are we to forgive those who are guilty of unspeakable sin? How do we forgive those who wound us and hurt us and the ones we love?
Jesus clearly states that it is “Godly” to forgive. But that in no way means that we do not stand up against violence! It does not mean that we fall silent in the face of violence nor turn our back on those seeking justice in the wake of violence...but we do not do it in a spirit of vengeance but rather in the spirit of true justice.
How do we forgive those who are guilty of violence, especially when it impacts us personally...when it is done in our name or in the name of our church, or in the name of our country? As you can see, it is not so easy...do we really believe in the transformative reality of forgiveness?
How can we contemplate forgiveness in the midst of this hideous war being waged against the people of Ukraine, as we see each evening on the news the unbelievable level of devastation of their lives, their land and forcing them into fleeing their country?
Let us continue to hold the people of Ukraine in our thoughts and prayers. Let us pray for a swift end to the war being waged by Russia against the people of Ukraine and pray that the U.S. and other countries of the world to increase their combined efforts and intercede to bring about a peaceful end to this war, and all wars being waged around the world.
As we reflect this week on the Gospel story of “The Prodigal Son”, we must remember that the forgiveness of which Jesus speaks of holds the power to transform the hearts and lives of both the victim and the perpetrator. God’s forgiveness is boundless and is freely lavished upon us because we are the beloved of God.
And so, this week let us reflect on...who am I called to forgive? What might I personally, and we as a nation, need to be forgiven for? How do we forgive and at the same time demand true justice?
Lenten Blessings,
Fr Tim
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