Jesus keeps stressing the importance of forgiveness among his followers. He weaves the theme of forgiveness in what we call today the “Lord’s Prayer.” The prayer is presented in St. Matthew’s gospel with an addendum highlighting forgiveness. Jesus keeps coming back to forgiveness because he knows how hard it is to forgive. When we have been hurt we are reluctant to forgive because it opens up the possibility of being hurt again. But perhaps the most significant reason forgiveness is hard is that the perpetrator, the one who harmed us, doesn’t deserve it. They go about their life oblivious to the pain they are causing. Jesus tells us that we are called to forgive because we need God to forgive us even when its undeserved.
JUNE222017
By Church Staff
