Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
Lord,
forgiving those who wrong us, who hurt us is hard work,
even harder when they are part of the family of faith.
Surely, Peter's seven times would be enough.
I'm mean haven't you heard the phrase:
"hurt me once, shame on you.
hurt me twice, shame on me."
But you do what you always do,
Lord, you push us beyond human possibilities.
You say, "seventy-seven times".
If the scholars are right
about seven being understood as the complete number,
then you are telling us to forgive completely.
Let not even an ounce of grudge or resentment.
Lord,
I've also heard it said that forgiveness is not complete
until you can wish the other well-being and blessings.
You teach us to pray:
"Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors"
So I confess to you, Lord,
forgive me for my unforgiving heart, for my unforgiving ways.
In the same way you forgive me, (which is completely!)
Lord, help me forgive others with that same complete measure of Grace!
Amen.
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