August 3, 2021

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Where are you hardhearted? With whom would you like to be “tenderhearted” instead? I’ve come to believe that forgiveness is at the very heart of the universe. Where there is no forgiveness there is no relationship. In other words, love of any kind requires forgiveness of the other.

If the cross is the heart of the universe, then so is forgiveness. As I just said, without forgiveness there is no relationship. But we have been forgiven and therefore are children of God and brothers and sisters in Christ.

“Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Proper 22 – BCP)