“Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
We are spending this week and next with Matthew 18:15-35. Jesus talks about how to handle the ways we hurt each other. We need this help because people are messy! We hurt each other all the time. This is a rich passage, but we rarely are able to take in the fullness of what Jesus offers in these twenty sentences. There is so much here! This week, in Matt 18:15-22, we will read about how Jesus advises us on handling disagreements within our communities and adopting an orientation of letting go within ourselves. These helps- practical action and self-orientation- usually give us enough leverage to move on. If not, next week’s reading provides a parable that suggests another option.
But, you know… people are messy.
