Thursday, December 14, 2017

Bishop’s Note: December 14, 2017 – Reconciliation

Bishop Eric Menees

Throughout the Season of Advent, the themes that run through our lectionary are Repentance and Reconciliation in preparation for the Lord’s Second Advent.

Last week in the Bishop’s Note I spoke about repentance. This week I’d like to focus on the fruit of repentance - reconciliation.

Reconciliation means: “to bring back together.” Our sin separates us from God, and our repentance, with God’s Grace, brings us back together again.

However, we cannot be fully reunited with God if we are not actively seeking to reconcile with our family and friends with whom we’ve become estranged. What is it that the Lord’s Prayer says? Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us.

How are we reconciled? Admitting our fault and asking for forgiveness reconcile us. The promise of God is that, if we ask for forgiveness with a clean and contrite heart, He will forgive us.

What does scripture tell us about reconciliation with God?  “7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:7-10.)  The promise of scripture is that if we but ask with a “clean and contrite heart,” God will forgive us. The problem is that we are often afraid that our family and friends will not!

Ultimately, we have no power over another person to demand forgiveness. But here’s the thing – we can be that person who forgives, even if that person doesn’t forgive us!

Why should we forgive? Because that is what God wants us to do! Jesus said, so many times, that we should forgive someone who sins against us. Then Peter came up and said asked him: “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Mt. 18: 21-22)

And here’s the thing… Forgiveness is a decision, NOT a feeling! We do not forgive because we feel forgiving; we forgive because we are commanded to forgive. When we make the decision to forgive another, we are the ones released from the captivity of unforgiveness. This is true whether the person we choose to forgive is repentant or not; kind or not; receptive or not. We do this because Jesus does this for us – over and over again!

I pray you all a very blessed third Sunday in Advent.



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