Forgiveness.
God forgave my sin in Jesus’ name
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHcyrLTayOM
Reading Luke’s gospel, chapter 6, verses 37 to 42.
God how can we forgive
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zuBTuh4CsyE
There is no doubt that the world is a stressful place for many people at present. People are worried about their health, their finances, or their job. In some cases, all three. There are people who have lost their source of income, and who fall through the gaps in the support systems. Some were furloughed from their jobs, only to be made redundant when the situation did not improve as quickly as was hoped.
For others, the stress manifests itself in new and strange ways of having to do things which are necessary for life; standing in queues to get in to shops, toilets or other premises because of restrictions on how many people may be in at one time; not being able to meet up with friends, family, or business associates; working from home; wearing masks, or working behind screens which make communication difficult.
People are trying to perform unfamiliar tasks in their jobs, often attempting to make difficult, new, rules work in unfamiliar situations. Often these people are receiving abuse and threats of violence from members of the public, unused to having their routines altered, their freedoms curtailed.
People are having to make difficult decisions about their businesses, perhaps having to close down, after many years in the same trade, or having to make staff redundant who have worked with them for a long time. Such decisions often make people weep with frustration.
Times like this bring out the best, and worst in people. Modern technology makes it so easy to publish thoughts, sometime too easy. Any of you who have access to the modern phenomenon called “Social Media” must be aware of how easy it is for people to tell the world what has happened to them, or what they think about something.
At the moment, many people are experiencing the frustrations described above, and this is resulting in people making errors in their work. Errors, which in more normal times would pass with little comment, but now seem much more important. We read of how excited people get, when errors are made by tradespeople, shopkeepers, administrators and the like. Much verbal venom is expressed, about errors which can actually be rectified quite simply.
James Herriot, in his books about the life of a vet inYorkshire, describes the response of a typical farmer to life changing problems in his life. “Aye well, these things happen.” was his response. We seem to have lost some of this grit, or stoicism, in our modern world. Perhaps there needs to be a “Delay” setting on our social media devices, giving us a period of time to re-consider whether we really want this tought to be published to the world! In the past, when prompted to write a letter on some matter or another (in one case a resignation) I wrote the letter, addressed it, but did not sign it, and left it on my desk overnight. Only then, after some time had passed, did I decide whether or not to post it, usually deciding not to and tearing the letter up!
You may be familiar with the Latin phrase "Errare humanum est, perseverare autem diabolicum." It translates to: "To err is human, but to persist [in error] is diabolical." The saying is often attributed to Lucius Annaeus Seneca (6B.C. to 65 A.D.)
A better known saying is “Errare humanum est, ignoscere divinum.” To err is human, to forgive is divine. Attributed to Alexander Pope. (1688 to 1744)
Both writers grasp the essential truth that error is a part of the human nature, indeed, my father used to say that anyone who has never made an error has never made anything else either.
Jesus knew that we all make errors. He knew that we all need forgiveness and that God would offer that forgiveness. He urged us to forgive others when they make errors. He even went on to say that the standard we use when forgiving others, is the standard that God will use for us!
“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” is what we are urged to pray. It may not be easy, it may involve us in swallowing our pride, but next time we have to queue for something, or someone makes a mistake in something we have asked them to do, remember that if you forgive, you are acting in a God-like (divine) manner.
Forgive our sins as we forgive
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kv0sXSBH2ks
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we still think of ourselves as more important than others, and squabble like children about who is the greatest.
We like to think that people look up to us, and that we really are better that they.
But you upset our ideas, and offend against all protocol by rolling up your sleeves and coming to serve us.
Help us to forget our old ideas about precedence; let our dignity look after itself, and let us find the joy of being useful to others
It is good to know that our place is to serve, and that this is our usefulness.
You do not ask us to worry over motives or results, but quietly, unpretentiously, to do our job in trusting obedience.
Thank you for inviting the church to play its life in this minor key, and yet to enjoy the full music of your role.
Amen
Taken from “More Contemporary Prayers”
SCM Press, 1970.
We are one in the Spirit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcU5ENgutpE
May I take this opportunity of reminding our U.K. readers that you should have put your clocks and watches back one hour.
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