RCL Reflection, Proper 19A, Sept. 17, 2023. Who benefits more from forgiveness—the one forgiven or the one who forgives? Considering this question leads to some important answers, strange mathematics, and hard work. Are you ready? (Photo: FeatheredTar, Creative Commons License)
RCL Reflection for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, September 13, 2020
Jesus, Paul, and Joseph have a lot to teach us about growing as disciples and as the Beloved Community. Through these lessons we learn to be bridge builders and faithful forgivers. Check out our preaching/teaching points for each lesson.
Revised Common Lectionary Reflection for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 19, Year A, September 17, 2017
this forgiveness work is tough stuff and a tall order. It may take 77 attempts at forgiveness to finally let the hurt and anger and pain go. Like so much of the discipleship life, forgiveness seems to be more a process and less a destination. God is merciful and just even as we bicker and squabble and try to let go. As the poet William Langland said centuries ago “”All the wickedness in the world that man might do or say was no more to the mercy of God than a live coal dropped in the sea.” We humans aren’t there because we aren’t God. We just keep practicing until we get it right, until we are freed from our own prisons of jealousy, hatred, doubt, fear, and anger. (Photo: timlewisnm, Creative Commons)
