Sermonette: May 22, 2023

“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.”

During a recent adult education at our church, a rather startling idea was presented: Are we sometimes carelessly praying a curse upon ourselves when we pray the Lord's Prayer? Specifically, the part of the prayer that is in question is “... and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

The question with which we are challenged is, "Who has trespassed against us?" This begs the obvious response: could this be the person who is close to us who did something that we say we could never forgive? Or, could it be the person who we refuse to sit next to or be in the same room with because of a long-standing grudge? Could it be someone who holds a different political or moral view than us that makes our blood boil just to hear them speak? Could it be a local or national political leader whose decisions have made our life more difficult? Could it be an international leader who is financing causes we oppose?

Probably every one of us is guilty of not forgiving those who trespass against us. Does that take us off the hook? No. Should we just stop praying that part of the prayer because the duty is too hard to fulfill? No. The remedy recommended in our class is to think of offering peace in our minds to that person or persons during the Sign of Peace in our liturgy. If we find this difficult or impossible, we should pray for the grace to even think of how to offer peace to that person or persons. Harboring positive thoughts and forgiving our enemies is probably one of the most difficult teachings that Jesus has given Christians to follow. Yet, the Lord's Prayer reminds us that if we want to be forgiven by God, we need to forgive others that we find difficult to forgive.

Another way we can start is to stop doing those things that foment further hatred for this individual or individuals. This might include not sending memes or other correspondence that personally attacks or belittles this person or persons. These could be difficult habits to break. Yet in Galatians 5:15, St. Paul reminds us of the consequences of not forgiving each other. "For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another."

Note that this does not mean that we do not still defend truth, justice and righteousness. Two of the spiritual works of mercy are admonishing the sinner and instructing the ignorant. However, we do so respectfully and patiently. We love the sinner, not the sin.

Who must we forgive today? Every time we pray the Our Father it reminds us to ask that question.