Forgiveness...

A couple of years ago, I was one of several leaders organising a Church youth club camping trip. The minibuses were packed and before we set-off, we decided to fill-up at the petrol station opposite the Church. I went over and dutifully filled-up with about £50 worth of diesel. That’s back in the days when £50 bought you quite a lot of fuel!

Anyway, I drove the minibus back over the road. The young people piled in and I turned the key in the ignition. In response the engine spluttered, thick black smoke poured out of the exhaust but forward movement- there was none. I wonder whether you have spotted my innocent mistake? Yes. This minibus ran on unleaded petrol and was not going anywhere.

The person leading the trip did not take this development terribly well. Indeed, it would be fair to say that she was apoplectic with rage and did not speak to me until we had rented a new minibus, unloaded, reloaded and driven in silence to the campsite. It was a long journey during which time, I had ample opportunity to meditate upon my need for forgiveness.




The unforgiving servant

In our Gospel reading today we hear of others in need of forgiveness in the ‘Parable of the Unforgiving Servant’. This story tells the tale of a King who discovers gross mismanagement of his accounts by his servant and is about to sell his family into slavery when the servant pleads for mercy.

His debt of ten thousand talents is vast. One talent represents 20 Kilos of silver and ‘ten thousand’ was a turn of phrase for the largest number imaginable. The servant’s plight seems to be hopeless.

To our surprise, however, the King displays an outrageous generosity and forgives the debt. The servant’s memory is, however, very short and rather than allowing this gracious experience to change his life he rushes out to demand full payment of one hundred denarii grabbing his debtor by the throat. The King hears of this, calls the slave back to him, tortures him and demands he pay back the whole, original debt. Something he will never achieve.

So what are we to make of this parable?

Is God an angry King and are we merely miserable sinners in need of forgiveness? Our modern secular society would say no. Instead it would suggest that we are responsible individuals, requiring no higher authority for our lives. So, it would conclude that we need neither God, nor his forgiveness. I would like to suggest, however, that this is not true.

Firstly, I believe that we know our need of forgiveness inside ourselves. We wish to do the right thing and to live out the Gospel and yet too often what we pray and desire on a Sunday evaporates under the pressure of Monday.

Secondly, we know our need of forgiveness in our personal relationships. We may wish to do good by our friends, neighbours, even our loved ones. And yet we all carry memories of regret. For selfish choices, for things said in anger or- not said in fear.

Thirdly, we know our need of forgiveness in our wider world. Whilst many God-given energies are making the world a better place. We read daily of hunger in a world of plenty and pollution in a world of abundant blessing.

So perhaps the image of God as a merciful King is not so unhelpful. Perhaps the idea of ourselves as people given huge responsibility, and yet flawed, isn’t so wide of the mark. And maybe the idea that this forgiveness needs to be shared around starts to make sense.

Forgiveness is a fundamental plank of the Gospel.

For it is forgiveness that reconciles us to God and one another. At its heart, forgiveness is about relationships and it points us back to the relationship of unending love and understanding shared between the three persons of the Trinity.

Reconciliation, is also one of the sacraments of the Church, and it is offered to us when we come to baptism. In Baptism, we are invited to turn to God in response to his overflowing love. And in a few moments this is the profession that Jose will be making and all of us will have the opportunity to join with him in repenting of our sins and turning to Christ.

When the people of Israel passed through the Red Sea they were liberated from slavery. And, as Jose passes through the waters of baptism, he will be liberated from his sin. As they stood on dry ground, Jose is now putting his life on a firm foundation. And as they sought the promised land, so too Jose take the next step in his journey of faith.

And so, brothers and sisters, I invite you to join Jose as we are reconciled with God and one another and march on together to the promised land.

Amen.