God creates. God redeems. God forgives. Human beings don’t create or redeem. But we can forgive. When Jesus encounters the paralyzed man he forgives him. The scribes object that forgiveness is a divine prerogative. Jesus asks, “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?” We can infer from this encounter that forgiveness is not easy, even for Jesus. Because we share life with Jesus we can forgive as well — and it is important to do so. In forgiving, we are not saying that it’s all okay, no problem. Rather, when we forgive we are handing the one who hurt us over to God so that they no longer have any power over us. But it is a process, a long and winding road.
JUNE302016
By Church Staff