Forgive Us Our Trespasses

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” 

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail-marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name. (John 20:19-31)

This reading from John addresses forgiveness and who can forgive sins. Jesus transfers to the apostles his power to forgive sins. He sets it up so that forgiveness of sins is received through the ministry of the apostles. The power by which they absolve sins is the very power of Jesus Christ. Our Church has concluded priests are simply agents in persona Christi who exercise that sacramental power to which they have access because it resides in their soul by virtue of their ordination.  

Of course, we all have power to forgive.  Many of us, however, do not use that power.  It is moribund.  That part of the Lord’s Prayer about forgiveness is lip service for many of us: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  

We should remember that the Lord always stands in our midst.  He says, “Peace be with you” that can mean peace is always available when we are forgiven and we forgive those who have hurt us, as hard as that can be.  

When we see the Christ in others and forgive through the power of the Holy Spirit, it’s as if we have pulled the nails from their hands.  We take them down from the crosses on which we have nailed them.  The same applies to us when we are forgiven.  

Next time we view a crucifix, let's think about forgiveness.  Then, do it!

Deacon David Pierce