Daily Meditations for Lent 2006

Mar. 21 - Tuesday

Matthew 18:21-35

Readings

Corrie Ten Boom, a renowned evangelist, had once been imprisoned in a German concentration camp. Years later, while giving a talk on forgiveness, she recognized a prison guard who had mistreated her. He didn’t recognize her, and came up afterwards to shake her hand. At that point she had only hatred for her former captor, and prayed for the grace to be able to love him. She felt the Lord calling her to put out her hand, and when she had obeyed, heard him saying to her, “Well done, Corrie, that’s how my children behave.”
Ten Boom’s initial response to the guard sounds a lot like the unmerciful servant. Someone owed him a debt, and he simply wanted it back. He couldn’t let go of what he thought was rightfully his. In the same way, Corrie knew that this man owed her something for the terrible wrong he had done to her. Even though he could never pay her back, she was reluctant to release him from his debt.

In each of our lives, there is a similar story. We have all been wronged at one time or another, and we are each given the opportunity to show forgiveness. The fact is, we seldom find it easy. The only power that can truly bring us to forgive others is the power of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Because of the blood he shed for us on Calvary, we can walk in his love and not be bound by our grudges and hatreds anymore. The old law of “an eye for an eye,” doesn’t have to apply to us. We have been set free!

As we reflect on Jesus’ power to restore relationships, we should also remember how crucial forgiveness is to our spiritual life. In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus tells us to pray, “Forgive us, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” If we refuse to forgive our brothers and sisters, we prevent ourselves from receiving his love. With that in mind, let’s ask ourselves if there is someone we need to forgive. If so, don’t wait another moment to bring that situation to the foot of his cross—that’s where he can deal with it!

“Lord, I need your heart! I cannot love the way I should. Let your love flow into me, and I will truly be a child of the light!”

posted by Thomas Cagurangan @ 8:53 PM