Room for compromise anyone?

       In today's highly polarized and political environment, there seems to be no room for compromise. You are either with us or against us, feel free to 'un-friend me', you are incredibly stupid and blind because you can't see the truth and of course everything that you say is a fake fact. Like I said, little room for compromise. 

       I can see that there is room for perhaps a little forgiveness on the part of some but even that seems unlikely.  There was just another shooting that seems to have been agitated by a far right militant point of view. No room for compromise. Yet, this Sunday mornings' passage from Matthew is quite a stirring reading. Jesus is calling us to forgive not 'as many as seven times' but ’Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times'. Yikes, that is a whole lot of forgiveness.

       So what is forgiveness in terms we can understand? I mean, I am getting that many people cannot even grasp the forgiveness that they have been the recipient of by God.  Do we even realize why Jesus willingly allowed himself to be nailed up on that cross?  Jesus said to 'forgive them' for they know not what they do'.  Jesus died for all of our sins.  Maybe take a few moments to reflect on our own sins, our weaknesses, our arrogance, our stubbornness and our own willful ignorance - perhaps because that ignorance is simply convenient for us. Oh, we have tons of sin. We are steeped in it. So all of our faults God sees and Jesus decides to take the fall. Don't look at someone else's sins, lets just look a our own. Yes, Jesus died for you. Total forgiveness, wipe the slate clean and start all over. That is the forgiveness we are granted. That is the forgiveness Jesus died for. And the rising is for us to know we can have hope, renewal and new life. 

          Wonderful. Perhaps that may even stir you to being tearful at how much God loves you and what God has done for you. Now, you are the forgiven slave, how will you forgive others? In the same way? Did you learn a lesson?   How many times will you now be willing to forgive your fellow man, your neighbor, your spouse, a stranger, as many as seven times? ’Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times'.

          Now you know what you need to do.

Matthew 18:21-35

 Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.

 ‘For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.” And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow-slaves who owed him a hundred denarii;and seizing him by the throat, he said, “Pay what you owe.” Then his fellow-slave fell down and pleaded with him, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you.” But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow-slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, “You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow-slave, as I had mercy on you?” And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he should pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sisterfrom your heart.’