Forgiveness, March 6

Jesus said, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." His words are more familiarly known in our world today as the golden rule. Jesus had an uncanny ability to link one's actions/interests with those of his/her fellow human beings. The way you treated others was to be the way you wanted to be treated. Neighbors were to be loved as you loved yourself. And those who mistreated you were to be forgiven, not just until the internal ledger you were keeping was full or until that straw precariously perched became too heavy and broke the back of that camel. (you know, the straw that broke the camel's back) Jesus spoke of love and forgiveness for enemies and friends alike. In the context of personal faith...as one who has been forgiven again and again by God, I am to approach my relationships with others extending the same grace I have received. Nouwen's take on the golden rule in the context of forgiveness is as follows: "A forgiven person forgives." Pretty simple formula...pretty challenging application. But think for a moment...what would happen if you and I applied that formula to those we believe have wronged us? Nouwen says that we are to respond to hostility in love. "By doing so," he writes, "we make visible a new way of being human and a new way of responding to our world problems." We have tried a lot of other things. Maybe Lent is a good time to really try out this "new way."