It's a Hard Thing

....but it's a very hard thing.

... I was reading scripture the other day.  Jesus was teaching the disciples about forgiveness.  He told them that if a "brother sins against you, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to saying, "I repent", you shall forgive him", (Luke 17:4)

and the disciples responded with "Increase our faith" (Luke 17:5)

and the Lord replied, "If you have the faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea, and it will obey you" (Luke 17:6)

That passage struck me.  Is Jesus being ironic or is He suggesting that we don't need faith to forgive the hard things? 

I like that the disciples realized immediately how hard forgiveness is.  Upon hearing 7 times - the number of completion - you can almost hear them proclaiming "What?!" followed by, "Impossible - give us faith!"

But maybe we don't need faith so much as we need attitude, willingness, and trust.  Maybe the "faith" comes when we start with being willing to be made willing to forgive. 

Christ's teaching on forgiveness is radical.  In today's culture, we don't harken to words like "sin" and "repent" so the passage is easy to overlook.  While forgiveness is attractive - it's almost a buzz word in restorative justice circles - not too many people believe in sin or repentance anymore.  So, let's switch it up and imagine how Jesus would say it today...

"If someone hurts you, confront them about it - don't yell, attack or be passive aggressive towards them, but rather, graciously and respectfully point out how their word or deed or action impacted you -  be assertive; if they realize the harm they caused, take ownership and give a genuine apology, extend them your forgiveness - be reconciled to them...don't hold it over them, but rather move on...and if they do it again, and again, and again, as long as they are realizing they keep tripping up and continue to be apologetic, you continue to forgive them"....

It's a hard one!  And totally opposite what culture says we ought to do it.  When we've been inculturated to look out for number one we are also justified to sever relationship with those who harm us.  Doesn't it just FEEL better to hold it against them?

Like the disciples said, "Increase our faith."

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