Tag Archives: forgiveness

A vineyard of peace, love, and goodness

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Marten I. van Valckenborch (1534/1535 – 1612)
Gleichnis von den bösen Winzern (Oktober), 1580/1590
Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien

Jesus said, “Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” Matthew 21:43

My challenge every day is to produce the fruit of God’s kingdom: “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious” (Philippians 4:8).

Today I will examine my words, actions, attitudes, and behaviors to discern the fruits I am producing as I go about my daily life. I will ask the Lord to give me the courage to make necessary changes that I may grow in peace, love, and goodness.

It’s never too late

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William Hogarth (1697-1764)
after Nicholas Yeates (1669-1686 (fl.c.))
The parable of the two sons (Matthew, 21:28-32)
print, 1724

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: “When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.” Matthew 21:32

It’s never too late to change my attitudes and behaviors. It’s never too late to ask God to open my heart to mercy and forgiveness. It’s never too late to learn to relate to others with forbearance instead of resentment, patience instead of scorn, kindness instead of ridicule, peace instead of violence, love instead of fear.

Today I will humble myself and ask God to show me where I need to make changes in my thinking, attitudes, behaviors, and actions. I will ask God to give me the courage to make these changes so that I may grow in love and goodness.

God is always near

School of Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669)
Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard: Matthew 20:1-16
5 15/16 x 7 11/16 inches
Pen and brown ink, pentimento in left arm of seated figure corrected in opaque white, on paper; later washes and pen strokes in gray.
The Morgan Library and Museum

Seek the LORD while he may be found, call him while he is near. Let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked his thoughts; let him turn to the LORD for mercy; to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
Isaiah 55:6-7

God is always near, God is always here. We are always welcome to call on God for help, guidance, mercy, compassion, comfort, and love. It is never too late to call on God.

Today I will intentionally make conscious contact with God. I will ask God to lead me where I need to be and then rest in stillness for a minute to listen to God’s voice in my heart of hearts.

Forgiveness is a journey

Lawrence W. Ladd (1879-1945)
Parable of the King and His Servants, ca. 1880
watercolor and pencil on paper
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Gift of Bates and Isabel Lowry, 1986.70.5

Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor; remember the Most High’s covenant, and overlook faults. Sirach 28:7

Forgiveness is a journey that takes time and our willing participation. God gently calls us to let go of the wrath and resentment that have held us in bondage and become more like God in mercy and kindness. To answer God’s call we work our way through the anger and blame and fear we feel as the result of being treated disrespectfully, carelessly, scornfully, unjustly, inhumanely. We will eventually arrive at the heart of the grief of how others have treated us, how we have treated others, how a societal norm is growing where it is acceptable to treat people as objects to be manipulated rather than as subjects who have been made in love to be loved.

Today I will ask God to show me how to forgive those who have hurt me and to become willing to make amends to those I have hurt. I will remember God’s covenant of love and ask for the grace to grow more like God in mercy, kindness, patience, and compassion.

Who am I

John Everett Millais (1829-1896)
The Pharisee and the Publican, 1864
The Tate

Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.

What a hook! I want to find out if I am one of those to whom Jesus is addressing this parable.

And yes: often I am the self-righteous one who compares myself favorably to others and wonders why others don’t act, think, and speak as I do.

But now and again I become aware of my arrogance and face my failures, weaknesses, and woundedness. In these moments of truth, I dare to ask God’s mercy so that I may instead act, think, and speak with the mind and heart of Jesus Christ.

Follow the Way

For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely,
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Galatians 5:14

And another said, “I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home.”Luke 9:61

What delays me from following the way of Jesus in welcoming, forgiving, loving,  showing compassion to, and living in peace with my neighbor?

Today I will practice awareness of the presence of the Lord in each moment.

Through the Holy Spirit

The Blue Marble
NASA/Apollo 17 crew; taken by either Harrison Schmitt or Ron Evans, December 7, 1972

We human persons are so small, frail, weak, and fragile. But filled with God’s Holy Spirit, we have the choice to be spacious in love, unbreakable in generosity, powerful in compassion, and invincible in forgiveness.

When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you set in place — What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him? Psalm 8:4-5

Starting over

Rembrandt (1606-1669)
The Three Crosses
drypoint and burin on paper (III/IV), 1653
Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum

The other [criminal said], “We have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:41-43

It is never too late to take responsibility for my actions, to turn to the Lord and ask for a chance to start again.

Listen

Resentment, fear, and the desire for retribution are heavy burdens. I would like to let them go, even though the pain of mistreatment goes deep.

Today I will hear and practice what the Lord asks of me: to love, bless, and pray for the people I consider my enemies and all those who have hurt me. Then may the burdens I carry be dissolved into the light of Love and Truth.

Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:28

Richard Dadd (British, 1817 – 1886)
Mercy: David Spareth Saul’s Life
oil on canvas, 1854
Getty Center

Baptized into the community of love

We are called by our baptism to remember each member of our human family is beloved of God.

It is our lifework to offer compassion to the suffering, forgiveness to those who have hurt us, and comfort to those who are grieving and burdened with the stresses that arise in life.

Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Isaiah 40:1