Do you need help forgiving someone?
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Mark 11:25
Heavenly Father,
On this Tuesday of Holy Week,
as Jesus taught his disciples essential lessons
they would need in the coming days,
he chose to highlight forgiveness.
May we never misunderstand Jesus’ command to forgive:
It is not our forgiving others that earns your forgiveness.
It is your forgiveness alone through Christ’s death and resurrection
that empowers us to forgive.
And yet, you have made your design clear:
there is no room for bitterness and unforgiveness
in the Christian’s heart.
You have shaped our hearts
for your contra-conditional love,
undeserved mercy,
and costly forgiveness.
Almighty God, help us.
Help us to name the harm that seems unforgivable.
Move mighty mountains of bitterness
far from our hearts;
toss them into the depths of the sea.
Free us to run in the boundless love
which flowed fully down from the cross.
In Jesus’ forgiving name. Amen.
Read Mark 11:20-25; Matthew 6:7-15.
