Turn from Ash to Gold
Forgive them, they know not what they do!
One of the students living with us asked me here at The Moorings, “Why do we repent if we are 'forgiven sinners'?” I felt this was a good question, it's the age-old dilemma of being 'made new' in Christ and yet, still having traces of our ‘old life’ remaining - each day 'failing towards love' as my father would say.
As we pray prayers like the Jesus Prayer - that ancient prayer of the desert fathers and mothers- “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner”, we can feel, like the tax collector in the story, that we are in right relationship to God, the God who is perfect and whose sandals we are unworthy even to intie, looks on us with deep love and compassion, as we yet again become impatient with our spouse, or child, or friend, or brother, or sister. As we yet again begin in our selfish pride to think that we are somehow better than others around us, as we fail to take the log out of our own eye first.
I suppose I liken the way we look at others, being directly related to how we see ourselves in relation to God. If we feel we are 'basically quite nice people' it's much easier to judge those around us. If we know we also are forgiven sinners, we begin to see people as equal to us- who may have had a harder start, and insecure in knowing they are loved by God. God sees this lack of love and self-reliance instead of on Him. He sees us and knows us, as a father who truly loves his child. God calls us to radical forgiveness. As we are and become more aware of our need to daily repent, we begin to see others as in need of that forgiveness too, that they, like us, are broken people who we need to forgive, as God in Christ forgives us.
Christ comes to us as not a victorious King, but as a wounded Messiah, who takes our wounds and in their place brings his healing and holy spirit.
We do not follow a God who is rich or powerful or even physically strong. We follow a Messiah who was born into one of the poorest places on earth, occupied by the Romans then, and still being fought over now.
Who was tempted to eat bread when famished, but resisted by the power of the Holy Spirit and his knowledge of the word of God.
We are offered that same spirit to fill us daily and daily we need to ask for it, because we leak.
Jesus would simply say he was doing the will of the father, even to the way of cross.
How do we know the will of the father? Through prayer and fasting, not fasting like a diet, but rather giving up something and replacing it for a season with reading the Bible, praying and listening to God. It can be a joyful endurance every time we feel tempted to give in, to call on God to sustain us.
The way of the cross means the self-sacrifice of allowing ourselves to be poured out for those around us. Not counting the cost to ourselves. It means forgiving the sinner.
Even forgiving ourselves.
We only do this as we remember we too are sinners.
As the nails are hammered into Jesus’ hands he says, “Forgive them they know not what they do." How can he have such insights? Such forgiveness? At such a moment? It is living, as he does, in love, the deep love of the trinity, the community of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is because this enables Christ to see the potential golden soul, which is in every heart, even the darkest hearts that have become confused and believed the lies of the world which serves only to feed itself.
The truth is, as we remember we are sinners, we are more forgiving of those around us who are also broken, insecure and hurting, even those with smart suits, large homes and fast cars. Possibly they are the most to be kind to because they have lost sight often of their need for God, blinded by things of this life. We can all be blinded by such things and a period of fasting can refocus us on our need for God’s love and presence to sustain and guide us.
As we open our hearts to infinite love and forgiveness we are blessed sinners and then can, in turn, be a blessing to sinners around us. We are all in the same boat.
So why not try today to let go of some hurt, someone who hurt you in an unjustifiable way and give it over to God? As we allow Christ’s forgiveness in, as we repent of our own sin, and hand over the sins of others, we begin to live a life full of joy and wonder, even in the midst of the darkness, there is light. There is hope.
So, let’s begin today to forgive and be forgiven, to live a free life of fear and filled with love.
May repentance fill you today and always with a sense of God's grace for you and for others and his everlasting joy.
Let go and let God in and ... Be Blessed!
Helen