Category: Forgiveness

Words Jesus said. . . and meant (2)

On By Julie McCartyIn Bible verses, Forgiveness, Jesus Christ, LentLeave a comment

The gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus was crucified between two criminals, one who scoffed at him and one who respected Jesus. It was this second criminal who admitted his deeds deserved punishment–and then asked, “Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.”

In that moment, while hanging on the cross, Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

39 Lent--Holy Week--Words of Jesus--This day paradise(click on image to enlarge)

 This story reminds me that Jesus reaches out to all, and welcomes all into his kingdom. The “bad thief” was also welcome, but he wasn’t interested. In fact, he mocked Jesus. It is the “good thief” who welcomes Jesus–and who is received into the kingdom of God.

I also notice that Jesus didn’t make special demands on the “good” thief, in this last moment of his life. Jesus forgave him right then and there–and promised him eternal life, communion with God forever in heaven.

As I think about this today, I think about the symbolism we can apply to our own lives today. Jesus is alive, present in our midst. Do we mock him? Stone him? Crucify him?  Or, do we welcome Christ, ask forgiveness, seek grace and the kingdom of God?

Something to think about.

Until next time, Amen!

 

 

Things Jesus Said…and meant

On By Julie McCartyIn Bible verses, Forgiveness, Jesus Christ, Lent, Spiritual practices1 Comment

During this last week before Easter–often called Holy Week–I’m going to post words of Jesus. Here’s one thing Jesus said while being crucified: 

38 Lent--Holy Week--Words of Jesus--Forgive them (click on image to enlarge)

That anyone would say this while being tortured and cruelly executed is a truly remarkable thing. It reminds us that Jesus forgives our sins even in the most horrendous of situations. No sin you commit is so big that Jesus cannot forgive it. Christ’s love is more powerful than sin itself. 

This is a key message of Christ, and one that should make us think about how we treat others…Do we show mercy and forgiveness to others?

Something to think about…

Until next time, Amen! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Augustine, Love, and Spiritual Cosmetics

On By Julie McCartyIn Beauty, Compassion, Forgiveness, Jesus Christ2 Comments

When ancient spiritual writers talk about “beauty,” they are often talking about something deep, virtuous, and lovely in the soul. Surface beauty is fleeting, but the deeper soul-beauty can last forever.

32 Lent-Week 5--Compassion--Augustine

“Love is the beauty of the soul”…I think what Saint Augustine is telling us is that love is what makes our souls beautiful. He’s talking about that genuine love–the kind of love that Christ has for all people, the kind of love that is willing to die in order to save another’s life. This kind of love could be called “spiritual cosmetics” … only it’s much deeper and more profound than cosmetics could ever be…

True love for one another is what makes us beautiful–and Christ proved he believed this by staking his life on it.  I often think it’s the teachings of Jesus–his love of others– that really brought on his death on the cross. People don’t like hearing stuff like “love your enemy” or “forgive one another.” Certain people also felt their own earthly power was threatened by Jesus’ popularity–and his teaching, they thought, threatened their own earthly power.  I don’t know. I’m just thinking aloud here.

Until next time, Amen! 

Kindness, Compassion, and Forgiveness–Ephesians 4:32

On By Julie McCartyIn Compassion, Forgiveness, LentLeave a comment

This week I’m pondering the theme of compassion / love:

31 Lent--week 5--Compassion--Ephesians (click on image to enlarge)

The New Testament is filled with the message of compassion, kindness, and forgiveness. These things are not always easy to practice, but they are the way of Jesus. Those who would follow Christ, are called to be “at work” in the ways of kindness, compassion, and forgiveness.

Until next time, Amen! 

Mother Teresa and forgiveness

On By Julie McCartyIn Forgiveness, Lent, Spiritual practicesLeave a comment

When one takes up a Lenten practice, it is easy to say “oh, I’ll do that”…but then a little time passes, and it’s sometimes difficult to keep it going.  So I missed a day here and there of posting quotes. The way my mind works, missing a few days makes me tempted to give up the new practice.

HOWEVER, that’s the good time to just get back to it. Yesterday was a busy (and awesome!) day, so I didn’t get to post this quote… so here you go: words of wisdom from Mother Teresa:

30 Lent--week 4--Forgiveness--Mother Teresa

Hope your Lent is going well. Persevere. Hope and trust in God…

Until next time, Amen! 

Martin Luther quote about forgiveness

On By Julie McCartyIn Forgiveness, LentLeave a comment

Today’s quote about forgiveness intrigues me… I wonder what Luther was specifically thinking about when he wrote it?

28 Lent--week 4--Forgiveness--Luther

Perhaps those of you who are preachers or have sermon experience might have some more insight into this… Why is preaching about forgiveness dangerous? Do people get angry at you for telling them to forgive one another?   Or…???

Until next time, Amen! 

Thought from Gandhi about forgiveness

On By Julie McCartyIn Compassion, ForgivenessLeave a comment

Today I’m pondering this quote from Mahatma Gandhi:

27 Lent--week 4--Forgiveness--Gandhi

At first glance, it may seem that Gandhi is wrong? After all, it seems that the powerful would not stoop to forgiving others. To forgive seems to let the other person off the hook…and somehow that makes us feel less powerful? I don’t know… I’m just “thinking out loud”…

I think perhaps Gandhi is speaking from his own experience. He devoted his life to seeking out the truth, not only by reading about it, but by putting spiritual truths into practice, testing the truth with his life choices and experiences. One can’t accuse Gandhi of not “walking the walk” with his life.

This makes me think that Gandhi knew–from his own experience– how hard it was to truly forgive someone, especially when the wound is severe and deep. But just because it’s difficult to do, that didn’t stop Gandhi from living the principle of forgiveness. I’m thinking that Gandhi learned that it is really the stronger person, inwardly strong in spirit, who can forgive and move forward with love in their heart towards the person who hurt them.

Perhaps that’s one reason people called Gandhi “Mahatma,” a word that means “great-souled” or “Great Soul,” one who has great wisdom and selflessness.

It would take that kind of person to constantly forgive and treat others with compassion, in the manner of Mahatma Gandhi.

Until next time, Amen! 

Jesus’ teaching about forgiveness

On By Julie McCartyIn Bible verses, Forgiveness, LentLeave a comment

For my Lenten images, week 4 is about forgiveness/mercy. (I should have started this yesterday, but ya know how sometimes things come up…)

Jesus showed mercy, love, and forgiveness again and again. If we are to be followers of Jesus, this means we are called to do the same. That doesn’t mean we allow people to keep hurting us. There are times we have to remove ourselves from a situation to keep from getting hurt (such as, domestic violence).

26 Lent--Week 4--Forgiveness--Jesus 7 times (click on image to enlarge)

I find this teaching of Jesus sometimes easy and sometimes extremely difficult. I don’t always do it very well, and I still have lots of ways in which I need to grow in forgiving others.

What do you do when you find it hard to forgive someone?
(Please share ideas in the comments.)

The Risen Lord Enters Our Hell

On By Julie McCartyIn Art and spirituality, Forgiveness, Images of God, Jesus Christ, Overcoming Fear2 Comments

The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many.  –Matthew 27:52-53.

When you think of Christ’s resurrection, what do you imagine? Do you think of Jesus bursting out of the tomb, his cape flying behind him like Superman? Do you think of Jesus disguised as the gardener who surprises Mary Magdalene? Jesus magically appearing behind locked doors? Walking with the disciples on the road to Emmaus?  

If you were raised in an Eastern Christian church, you might have another image, an even more prominent image, strongly planted in your mind. You might immediately think of the “Anastasis” (Greek for “resurrection”), an icon or image of Christ breaking down the doors of hell (hades, the place of the dead), in order to free Adam and Eve and others from their spiritual prison.

Below is an ancient fresco of this image, painted in the Church of St. Chora in Constantinople. Christ is pulling Adam and Even out of their tombs. He is standing on the gates of hell, which he has broken open. Other saints and prophets of the Old Testament are also witnessing and participating in this remarkable event.

Anastasis--photo by Neil Harrison--Dreamstime.com

(Click on photo to enlarge. Photo: copyright Neil Harrison — Dreamstime.com) 

It is JESUS who goes the extra mile, to pull up Adam and Eve out of the grave. Never mind that Adam and Eve had deliberately sinned. Never mind that they didn’t “deserve” salvation. Never mind that they weren’t baptised Christian. Never mind that they lived before him in time and place.

Jesus’ love overcomes every obstacle. Even the doors of hell cannot hold Christ back. And that applies to our current lives as well. Christ enters the places we feel are our own personal “hells” in order to bring us new life.

In Praying with Icons, Jim Forest reminds us that the Anastasis Icon serves as a reminder that Christ wants to free us from all that enslaves us, especially perhaps, our fears:

The icon of Christ’s Descent into Hell can be linked with an ongoing prayer not to live a fear-centered life. We live in what is often a terrifying world. Being fearful seems to be a reasonable state to be in — fear of violent crime, fear of job loss, fear of failure, fear of illness, fear for the well-being of people we love, fear of collapse of our pollution-burdened environment, fear of war, and finally fear of death. A great deal of what we see and hear seems to have no other function than to push us deeper into a state of dread. . . .

We can easily get ourselves into a paralyzing state of fear that is truly hellish. The icon reminds us that Christ can enter not just some other hell but the hell we happen to be in, grab us by the hands, and lift us out of our tombs.

There is much that can frighten us in our everyday experiences. Christ does not prevent us from ever suffering–but Christ does promise to be there with us, through the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within and among us, come what may.

Until next time, Amen!