Forgive Us Our Trespasses

Jesus said to his disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur.  It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. Be on your guard!

If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him.”

And the Apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” (Luke 17:1-6)

Forgiveness appears at the top of Jesus’ agenda.  We should have it at the top of ours as well.  Consider our daily prayer: Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Amen.

However, if our brother wrongs us seven times in one day and then asks to be forgiven each time, our temptation might be to say: “How stupid!  Not again!”

Nevertheless, there may be a need for us to forgive our brothers and sisters seven times and more, as frustrating as that may be.  For example, those held prisoner to addictions such as to alcohol or drugs need frequent forgiveness and then support.  Addictions are the millstones around their necks needing to be thrown into the sea, minus the prisoner.  We need to help our brothers and sisters throw those stones into the deep through our forgiveness.

Deacon David Pierce