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, 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 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. Forgiveness does not say the injury, the abuse or the sin did not happen. 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 way says “they are not guilty”.
So what does this all mean for us as disciples of Jesus Christ? Jesus is the model of kindness and forgiveness…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 hideous wars being waged against the people of Ukraine and Gaza, 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 war torn countries in our thoughts and prayers. Let us pray for an end to the wars
being waged against the peoples of Ukraine and Gaza and pray that the U.S. and other countries of the world combine efforts and intercede to bring about a peaceful end to these wars, 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 the 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 for crimes against individuals and against other nations?
As part of our Lenten journey, let us all reflect on how does the lavishness of God’s forgiveness fit into today’s political
landscape and “the intentional chaos” being created not just here and around our country but in places like Ukraine, Gaza
and South Sudan? How does the pull back of USAID’s funds -- that save millions of lives from famine and disease around
the world -- deserve forgiveness, yet, our theology says it does...but perhaps not without impunity? And not without
moral outrage and certainly not without public outcry that demands for a reversing of the cruel and unjust policy changes being enacted without any care or concern for the horrific toll on human lives they are having. Let us continue to make our voices heard, emboldened by and guided by the Holy Spirit, as we continue to live out our discipleship of Jesus Christ, faithful to His call to love our neighbor as ourselves!
Lenten blessings,
Fr. Tim
This is the context of the story of the “Prodigal Son” or perhaps 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. Forgiveness does not say the injury, the abuse or the sin did not happen. 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 way says “they are not guilty”.
So what does this all mean for us as disciples of Jesus Christ? Jesus is the model of kindness and forgiveness…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 hideous wars being waged against the people of Ukraine and Gaza, 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 war torn countries in our thoughts and prayers. Let us pray for an end to the wars
being waged against the peoples of Ukraine and Gaza and pray that the U.S. and other countries of the world combine efforts and intercede to bring about a peaceful end to these wars, 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 the 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 for crimes against individuals and against other nations?
As part of our Lenten journey, let us all reflect on how does the lavishness of God’s forgiveness fit into today’s political
landscape and “the intentional chaos” being created not just here and around our country but in places like Ukraine, Gaza
and South Sudan? How does the pull back of USAID’s funds -- that save millions of lives from famine and disease around
the world -- deserve forgiveness, yet, our theology says it does...but perhaps not without impunity? And not without
moral outrage and certainly not without public outcry that demands for a reversing of the cruel and unjust policy changes being enacted without any care or concern for the horrific toll on human lives they are having. Let us continue to make our voices heard, emboldened by and guided by the Holy Spirit, as we continue to live out our discipleship of Jesus Christ, faithful to His call to love our neighbor as ourselves!
Lenten blessings,
Fr. Tim
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