Peter came up and said to Jesus, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven." -Matthew 18:21-22
For the first time in two years, the clergy of the Diocese of Pennsylvania gathered for our annual conference. At this gathering, we were blessed with the words of our guest speaker, Dr. Luther Smith, a professor from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta. Dr. Smith spoke of Community, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation.
During his discussion, Dr. Smith pointed out some truths we would all benefit from hearing. We often think Forgiveness and Reconciliation involve putting aside our own emotions and simply "letting go". Forgiveness is often not so straightforward, as Dr. Smith reminded us. Forgiveness is a process that we continue to go through multiple times, as Jesus Himself teaches us. Sometimes we have to forgive the same wrong over and over again.
When we forgive, we are often forgiving actions that were truly wrong. Because of the wrong done to us, there will of course be great emotions. We cannot escape that, nor should we try to. However, forgiveness recognizes that there is something greater than the perpetrated wrong. In tying Community, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation together, Dr. Smith reminded us that in forgiving and being reconciled, we acknowledge that the relationships of those we are in community with are most important.
I hope that you will commit yourselves to the art of forgiveness, just as our Lord Jesus Christ did with us. At the same time, I hope you will allow yourselves the time, energy, and emotion to make it through this process. Forgiveness is not an easy thing. Reconciliation does not always occur in a moment. Yet if we can make the effort, and if we are willing to bring everything we are feeling to the table, then the world will be transformed as it was through the death and Resurrection of Christ Jesus our Lord.