“Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
We are spending two weeks 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. We rarely take in the fullness of what Jesus offers in these twenty sentences. There is so much here! Jesus advises us on how to handle disagreements within our communities. He suggests we adopt an orientation of letting go within ourselves. Finally, this week, understanding that many of us are unable to accept the bald injustice of forgiveness, Jesus offers a parable that allows us to think of generosity as a just transaction in response to God’s love. These three helps- practical action, self-orientation, and logical justification- usually give us enough leverage to move on.
But, you know… people are messy.
