Joy Practices: Forgiveness

October 22^nd, 2017        “Joy Practices: Forgiveness”     Rev. Heather Jepsen

Luke 6:32-38 with 2 Corinthians 2:5-11

          This morning we begin our stewardship sermon series and I have to tell you I am really excited about it.  I am combining the scriptures with “The Book of Joy” to help inspire us all to re-think the way we live in the world.  We will be doing all sorts of different things like watching video clips and doing meditation practices within the sermon time so I hope you can be flexible and explore this subject with me.  I really hope you can connect to this series and that it inspires all of us not only to live more generously but also to live with more joy in our lives. 

          To start I want to introduce you to the book that has inspired this series.  Let’s watch our first video clip . . .

          (show “As an old man” video)

          The Archbishop encourages us to “do what we can, where we can” and the Dalai Lama asks us to start today, so we are going to do just that.  This sermon series is all about harnessing the gifts that God has given us and sharing that joy in the world we live in.  Today the gift that we are talking about is forgiveness. 

          I know we discussed forgiveness a few weeks ago, but it is such a difficult process that I think we can never be done talking about it.  In our scripture reading from the gospels today, Jesus is encouraging us to offer the gift of forgiveness to our enemies.   Jesus is teaching his followers to love their enemies and to treat them with mercy.  This generous behavior ties us to the very one who created us.  Jesus tells us to “be merciful, as our heavenly Father is merciful.”  When we are gracious in offering forgiveness, then we are reflecting the image of God.

          The language Jesus uses is powerful.  We are called not to judge, not even to judge those who have harmed us.  We are told plainly to forgive, and it is in forgiving others that we will receive our forgiveness.  This is a gift that will be returned back to us in abundance.  I love the language here, “a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.”  I love that image of abundance, I want that abundance of love and mercy in my life and I want it in your life as well.

          Of course, the work of forgiveness is hard.  Our natural inclination is to hold on to pain, and to allow hurt to fester.  To forgive feels like we have let someone get away with something wrong, and that really grates at our sense of justice.  We need to remind ourselves that to forgive is not to forget the wrong.  And it is not to accept the wrong doing and say that it was OK.  Rather, to forgive someone, is to refuse to respond with anger and hate.  To forgive someone is the chance for us to let go of what is continuing to hold us back.  To forgive someone is the chance to offer ourselves the freedom to let that moment, that pain and suffering, go.

          In his letter to the church in Corinth Paul addresses the need for forgiveness within the church community.  He points out that when someone within the community has sinned, the pain reverberates throughout the whole church.  Therefore, it is the job of the whole church to offer forgiveness.  More than that, Paul encourages the community to reaffirm their love for the one who has done wrong and to offer that individual consolation.  Once again, we are reminded that forgiveness is a gift, and Paul is asking the whole church to offer that gift.  Paul is well aware that the power to forgive comes from God alone, “if I have forgiven anything, it is within the presence of Christ.”  Paul is also aware that to hold on to grudges, to refuse to forgive, is another power all together.  “We do this so we are not outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.”

          While we may argue the personhood of such a Satan, we can all agree that to hold on to grudges, to refuse to offer forgiveness, is a very powerful negative force in our lives.  This has been scientifically proven.  When people think of their grudges, when they remember those who have wronged them, they have a physical stress response.  Blood pressure increases, heart rate speeds up, and we start to sweat.  We feel sad, angry, intense, and out of control.  To hold on to grudges, to refuse to offer the gift of forgiveness, literally makes us sick!  By contrast, to forgive someone literally makes us well. 

          There was an amazing story about forgiveness on the nightly news just this week.  On the ABC news “America Strong” segment Wednesday night they featured a man who had been a marathon runner.  He was hit by a car while biking and his spine, pelvis, and various other bones where broken.  As he lay in the street, unable to even feel his legs, the first thing he did was harness the power of forgiveness.  He forgave the driver who hit him right then and there in the street.  Doctors told him he would never walk again, but through sheer determination, and the desire to let that anger and hurt go, he was able not only to walk again, but to actually return to running marathons.  The man credited his whole healing process to that initial moment of forgiveness.  The segment ended with the injured man, his doctor, and the man who ran him over all running a marathon together.  That is the power of forgiveness.

          I think forgiveness is a wonderful way to begin our discussion of stewardship because forgiveness is a gift that we have the opportunity to give.  It is a gift that we give to the one who wronged us.  And perhaps, more importantly, it is a gift we give to ourselves.  When we refuse to forgive, we allow the past hurts to continue into our lives today, we are perpetuating negative energy.  The archbishop writes “Without forgiveness, we remain tethered to the person who harmed us.  We are bound to the chains of bitterness, tied together, trapped.  Until we can forgive the person who harmed us, that person will hold the keys to our happiness, that person will be our jailor.”  That sure sounds like the powers of Satan that Paul was writing about. 

          The amazing thing is, when we are able to truly forgive, we release ourselves from the things that hold us back and cause us pain.  Again the Archbishop writes, “When we forgive, we take back control of our own fate and our feelings.  We become our own liberator.”  Forgiveness is a gift that God offers to us, and forgiveness is a gift that we can then offer to our own hearts.  In the words of Jesus Christ, “Forgiveness is a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, and put into our laps.”

Forgiveness is good stewardship of the gifts we have been given by our good and gracious God!

          Our church’s stewardship theme this year is “Living generously begins with trust”.  I want you to trust me for these four sermons as I lead you through meditations based on our themes.  Today, we are going to do a forgiveness meditation.  I want you to call to mind someone, something in your life that still needs forgiveness.  I’m not talking about your big hurts, unless you really want to go there, rather let’s start with something small. . . . got something?  OK, let’s begin.

·       Sit comfortably in the pew with the soles of your feet planted firmly on the floor.  Place your hands gently on your knees or in your lap.

·       Close your eyes, relax, and take a few deep breaths.  Center yourself here now, in this place, in this very moment.

·       Now cast your mind back to the moment of hurt.  See that scene in your minds’ eye.  Now, in your mind, take a few steps back from yourself.  Watch the event unfold like you are watching a movie, watch yourself from a distance.

·       As you watch the situation unfold around your distant self, try to understand your feelings.  Why did you have those feelings?  What was the cause and reason for those feelings?  If the hurt is fresh, ask yourself, “Will this situation affect me in ten years?”  If the hurt is old, ask yourself “Do I want to continue to carry this pain?  Or do I want to free myself from pain and suffering?”

·       To offer forgiveness is to recognize our shared humanity.  Can you see the humanity of the one who harmed you?  Can you imagine that they probably hurt you out of their own suffering and pain?  Can you see and acknowledge their humanity, their pain?  Can you release your presumed right to revenge?  Can you move toward healing?  Are you able to offer forgiveness at this time?

·       Now consider your future relationship with this person.  Do you feel called to renew this relationship or to release it?  If you can renew the relationship, you can work towards healing in your family and in the community.  If the trauma is significant than perhaps it is time to release the relationship.  Imagine releasing the relationship, moving on, and offering good wishes to the one who harmed you as they go their separate way.

·       Take a few moments and ponder the gift and power of forgiveness.  Jesus tells us to “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  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.” 

·       Now bring yourself back to this moment.  Sitting in worship together in the faith community, the community of forgiveness.  You may open your eyes.

Good work friends!  Let’s close with another word from the Archbishop and the Dalai Lama.

          (Watch “Forgiveness is a strength” video)