The events of 9/11 challenge Christians in their duty of forgiveness and reconciliation, because there is no evidence of any expression of contrition or repentance from the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks and their supporters. ‘How many times must I forgive my brother when he sins against me? As many as seven times?’, Peter asks Jesus, already extending the three times that Jews taught forgiveness was merited (it was not merited on the fourth time the offence was committed). Not so, Jesus says: not seven times, but seventy times seven – 490 times, or a virtually unlimited number of times. In ch 17 of Luke’s gospel, we are told that, if asked for forgiveness seven times on the same day, we are to grant it!
But what of forgiveness and reconciliation, when there is no contrition or repentance? Jesus teaches us also that there is a free, unmerited forgiveness, which does not presume or rely upon prior repentance. Jesus’ prayer for those who persecuted him – Father, forgive them for they know not what they do – is the clearest example. We are counselled to forgive so that we ourselves are forgiven. ‘Should you not have mercy …, as I have mercy on you?’ And again: ‘For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive yours.’ Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you, Paul tells us in Ephesians (4:32). Knowing that we need to forgive others is part of the evidence of Christ working in our lives through the Holy Spirit. None of this is necessarily easy: it has to be prayed for and worked at.
St Guthlac's Church blog. Welcome to your community church in South Knighton
