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I want to affirm something most of us have discovered long ago…It is really hard to be a real Christian…Because Jesus asks us to do things that fly in the face of our “human” nature…like admitting that we are really messed up…and then forgiving ourselves and the other messed up people who have offended us in many and sundry ways. And yet, these principles are at the very heart of Jesus teachings and ministry and find their way into this prayer we call the Lord’s.
Hypocrites pray so as to impress others (Matt 6:5), but Jesus teaches us to pray in such a way that our lives are transformed. We are called to recognize the holiness of the Father, the coming of his kingdom, his provisions to sustain life…and then, our topic for today, forgiveness.
(Matt 6:9-12). At the conclusion of the prayer he even underscored how absolutely necessary forgiving others is to our spiritual life (Matt 6:14-15).
All through his ministry Jesus tried to teach his disciples the importance of forgiveness (Matt 18:21-35). He took this message with him to the cross, showering forgiveness on his executors (Lk 23:34)…a remarkable display of God’s grace.
Unfortunately, many of us have chosen a downbound train that leaves grace behind through:
Our refusal to acknowledge that we are messed up sinners…We are all in one big club.
Our refusal to accept God’s forgiveness… (I am too bad a sinner)
Our refusal to extend God’s forgiveness to those who have offended us.
What each us of needs to do is turn these principles into prayers if we hope to break through to the other side.