We continue a brief walk with some material on reconciliation by Walter Wink.
...the goal of forgiveness is always reconciliation. Moreover, reconciliation means, finally, reestablishing love between two or more estranged parties. Forgiveness for my own sake is selfish, narcissistic, and private. God calls us to forgive so that the walls of enmity can be torn down – between races, between sexes, between nations, between classes, between neighbors, between strangers, between family members, and friends.
This can be a hard thing to read. Hard because many times when we are at odds with another person or have broken a relationship, we do not want it repaired…we do not want there to be love reestablished. But within the domain of God’s Reign, and we claim to live there, forgiveness is the way of life among us. It is a strange way to live but it carries a promise of new life and resurrection that we have yet to experience. The walls of enmity as much as we would like to see them torn down really are quite a comfort to us…therefore; we are always called to remember our baptism….new life through death.
Connection: We start the work of forgiveness with the smallest things in our life. And yet, sometimes we take the leap and are able to build reconciled relationships even when there has been a great divide. Today is another opportunity to prayerfully seek the healing of our lives.
Lord of New Life, liberate our lives from the pain and sorrow and wounds that can control us and lead us more deeply into the same pain, sorrow and wounds that already hurt us so much. Liberate us and lead us to your promised land of forgiveness and hopefulness. Amen.
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