Lent Means: Hoping For Forgiveness

“But what about whose fault it is?” “What about if I’m the victim?” “What about injustice, hatred and all of the evils in the world that require a response?”

You’ve heard the ancient proverb, “Those who seek vengeance must dig two graves: one for the person fault and one for themselves.” The need for forgiveness couldn’t be understood more clearly. Bitterness, rage and anger, fighting and talking behind people’s backs is the quick way to kill relationships. On a group level, the impact is the same. When we choose to indulge hatred, we reduce the life expectancy of the organizations lifespan.

Lent is a call to do two things: repent and return. Just as Christ forgives us – people who don’t deserve forgiveness, so too should the Church’s members forgive one another.

It’s striking to me how Jesus communicates who he is. He tells people who he is and what he’s about, “I’m sent from God and I’m here to forgive sins.” In other situations he lets his actions speak for him. He heals people, he performs miracles and he educates anyone who wants to listen about the true nature of the Kingdom of Heaven. Perhaps we should be more open about our intentions, “I gossiped about you behind your back because I struggle with trust.” Allow our intentions to be seen in our actions; exhibit a track record of establishing and maintaining relationships. And when their is bitterness, rage and anger we confront those emotions as an open book, hiding nothing from one another and addressing our sin toward each other, seeking forgiveness and moving forward.

Lent is a call to do two things: repent and return. Just as Christ forgives us – people who don’t deserve forgiveness, so too should the Church’s members forgive one another.

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The following are examples of when Jesus extended forgiveness to others: