Jesus talks much about repentance and forgiveness. There is a story told in the biography of Jesus called Matthew about forgiveness. Peter, a close friend of Jesus’ , comes up to Jesus one day, and asks him , “ How many times must I forgive my brother, up to seven times ?”. I do not think that you would ask such a question unless you have a problem with your brother. Maybe Peter is trying to deflect something here, and the question is actually about one of the close followers of Jesus, his spiritual brothers. At this point in time, the group is headed to Jerusalem. Jesus is going to die, and maybe not all of the followers/disciples are thinking that this is a good idea, Jesus’ death.
It is hard to forgive someone, if you feel that they have done you wrong. It is also hard to repent of a sin that you committed against your brother or sister, or just about anyone else. You have to get inside your own head, about why you did something that you knew was wrong. And if you have someone sin against you, you have to think about whether or not you are going to forgive them.
Is it ever right for me to ask someone to forgive me of my sin against them ? I do not think that I can demand it. It is good, or even great, when someone forgives me, but I cannot guilt them into saying that they forgive me. Forgiveness is good for me, when I have been wronged. For me to hold onto to it for a long period of time, is bad for my soul, mind, body and strength.
Recently President Obama visited Laos, in southeast Asia. It was the first time that a President of the USA had visited Laos since the end of the war in 1975. Laos was part of the war with Vietnam. The US bombed Laos from 1964 through 1973. They thought if they bombed the Ho Chi Minh trail that that would defeat the Communists of North Vietnam. For the most part, the bombs dropped by the United States were leftovers. The planes were returning to the bases in Thailand, and if they had any bombs left, they would drop them on rural Laos.
They have never repented of this. They have never asked for forgiveness. They have have not said what they did was wrong. Many of these cluster bombs did not explode, so they are still in the fields of rural Laos. Every year there are deaths from farmers trying to open their fields. So, who takes responsibility for those deaths ? During the air campaign thousands of civilians were killed, and since the war ended over 20,000 civilians have been killed by these unexploded cluster bombs. Obama could not repent of his country’s sin. He did pledge some money to clear the land of bombs. Maybe that is all we can ask of the US.
But, let me get back to Peter and I. Jesus tells Peter that he must forgive 70 times 7, and not just seven times. This might mean forever or it might mean that it is my obligation to always be moving toward forgiveness and reconciliation. I must be moving in that direction even when the person sins against me in the same way, four hundred and ninety times. This is what God does for me, when I sin against God and others. God has forgiven me more than 490 times.
Even when it is hard, forgiveness and repentance are at the heart of the Gospel. It is always best for our mind, body and soul and strength, if we do get to forgiveness and reconciliation. It is a lifelong long journey for Christians and society in general. What would it have meant for President Obama to say it was wrong what we did in Laos, and we are sorry that we did it ? What do you think of forgiveness ?
Ponder Anew 