Easter Two - Peace and Forgiveness

Reverend Sue
2 hours ago
4 min read

The risen Christ offers his disciples peace. And then immediately tells them that if they forgive anyone their sins are forgiven, if they retain anyone’s sins they are retained. It is worth noting that this is the newly risen Jesus who says this – the one who has much to forgive, including the feint hearted disciples in the room! (Easter Two. John 20:19-31.) I wonder if this means that when we pray for peace in the world, when we long for peace in our lives, that we are being challenged to consider who and what needs forgiveness (including us) and what grown up forgiveness even looks like?

Sentence:

“If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any they are retained.” John 20:23

Collect:

Gracious God,

Your son Jesus forgave us in life and offered healing;

he prayed from the cross that those who harmed him be forgiven;

and resurrected he taught his disciples to forgive and release others.

Help us to find our liberation and life in forgiving and blessing others,

and to be open to being ourselves forgiven and set free,

so that we too might experience resurrection life.

In the name of Source, Saviour and Spirit we pray. Amen.

Reflection:

Most of the world longs and prays for peace at this moment in world history. And yet many of us are weary and despairing and not sure how to hope much less contribute to peace. Maybe few contemporary or recent public figures have understood the difficulty and power of forgiveness as well as Desmond Tutu. (I lean into the book he and his daughter Mpho wrote: “The Book of Forgiving: the fourfold path for healing ourselves and our world.”)

You may like to read what I have reflected on in past years about the value of doubt and questions in the life of faith.

Easter Two

Desmond Tuto understood forgiveness to be both personal and political; to be a transformative process that both freed the victim and the perpetrator – emphasizing accountability and healing and restoration. As Chair of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission he emphasized that forgiveness was not about excusing wrong doing or ignoring accountability but instead it was a process designed to move people beyond anger and hatred, and breaking the bonds that tied victims to oppressors.

“The Fourfold Path to Healing”in The Book of Forgiving, Tutu outlines a structured approach to forgiveness:

1.Admit the wrong and acknowledge the harm – recognizing the impact of the offense on oneself and others.

2.Tell one’s story and witness the anguish – expressing the pain and suffering caused by the wrongdoing.

3.Ask for forgiveness and grant forgiveness – actively engaging in the process of reconciliation.

4.Renew or release the relationship – deciding whether to restore the relationship or let it go for personal peace.

Forgiveness, as Tutu understood it, was not so much about passive kindness as active work to understand, to engage, and to choose forgiveness. Which was not the same as forgetting or even agreeing to continuing in relationship if not safe or desirable. It was about liberation through letting go of what bound victim to perpetrator. And if the perpetrator engaged in the work there was the potential for liberation for them too. I strongly recommend this book for our times and the work that we have as community and individuals. We must not forget and simply attempt to move on but we do need to grapple with the wrongs, especially the systemic wrongs of this time, and to work toward a way of forgiving that will bring healing and restoration to all parties.

And Jesus placed us in the centre by saying that we determine whether the sins of others were forgiven or retained! Do we recognise the power we have? Given that often we feel like we have very little power.

Resurrection is not a passive process but active work in partaking in the new life of Christ Jesus and living into the fullness he promises. Even so, come Risen Lord, come lead us into new and courageous life.

Intercessions:

God of every beginning and all new beginnings,

Come fill our hearts and imaginations with hope and vision and courageous desire that we may see the needs of your world and desire with you new beginnings.

We particularly pray for those places and people where there is destruction or violence …

We pray for all who bring aid and compassion work to make real your kingdom.

God of new beginnings,

Hear our prayer.

Risen Jesus the Christ,

Come stir us up with hope and desire for peace and help us claim our power to release others from their sins just as we claim your forgiveness.

We particularly pray for those we have wronged and for those who have wronged us …

We pray for all who seek to bring healing to body, mind and spirit and seek to set people free.

Risen Christ,

Hear our prayer.

Spirit of truth, hope and peace,

Come move through us and among us that we may be enlivened and awakened to your desires for all peoples, creatures and places.

We particularly pray for those who are now beyond our sight, and those close to death or despair that you would envelope within your peace and love …

We pray for those who minister to the sorrowing and sick and pray that you would grant us such peace that we can serve our neighbours.

Spirit of truth, hope and peace,

Hear our prayer.

Living God,

Holy and Immortal, Restorer of all, Spirit that enlivens and heals,

We pray in the name of the Risen Christ, who came among us and showed us how to love and live. Amen.