...love and forgive...

“27 But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies; do good to those who hate you; 28 bless those who curse you; pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you, and if anyone takes away what is yours, do not ask for it back again. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive payment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure you give will be the measure you get back” Luke 6:27-38.

These words of love, spoken by Jesus, are really words about forgiving. There is no other way to live the Christian life apart from forgiving. I cannot love if I do not forgive, nor can I be loved if I am not forgiven. To live life as Christ calls us to live is as simple and difficult as that. To forgive is to offer freedom to another to be good again. To forgive is opportunity to return to friendships and love that need not slip away forever. Life is meaningful, life is worthwhile, life is lived to the fullest only when we forgive. For we cannot love if we do not forgive. Good Friday is good precisely because Jesus loves and forgives.

Take time today in prayer and ask God for His forgiveness, ask God for His love for you. Pray that you will be forgiven by others. Pray that you will forgive others.

Love and forgive, and expect nothing in return.

Forgive yourself.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.

From the Bible:

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” Ephesians 4:32.

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” Matthew 6:14-15.

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven” Luke 6:37.

“Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” Colossians 3:13.

“Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing” 1 Peter 3:9.