Read: Matthew 6:5-15
If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (v. 14)
When I was in my twenties, I experienced the distinct pain of betrayal caused by someone close to me. If you have experienced betrayal, then you know it can take a long time to heal from the trauma, mistrust, and bitterness that betrayal can breed within you. Jesus came to show us a better way to heal than harboring pain and resentment.
The Lord’s Prayer is likely a passage with which we are all familiar, but it is striking to note how much of an emphasis Jesus places on forgiveness. The word forgive, or related forms of it, is repeated six times in today’s reading, which tells me two things: First, forgiveness is a crucial part of our daily prayer life and faith walk. Second, Jesus knew how difficult this would be for us. We need his help. For God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven and for God’s kingdom to flourish among us, we must become a people who forgive others by God’s help.
Jesus knew that we cannot flourish without the regular practice of forgiveness—which does not mean erasing the consequences of someone’s sin. Releasing someone from our right to revenge is incredibly difficult, but it is often the only thing that will set us free to receive all the goodness that God has in store for those who entrust their hearts to him. A flourishing person is a forgiving person.
As you pray, ask for the grace of Jesus to surround you as you practice forgiving as you have been forgiven.
Katelyn J. Dixon is a contemplative writer, speaker, and poet living in the Seattle area. In her free time, Katelyn enjoys cooking, photography, and exploring the enchanting Pacific Northwest with her husband, Drew, while partnering with him in life and ministry.
