forgive

Thursday November 7^th, Luke 6:  22-23 "Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—skip like a lamb, if you like!—for even though they don't like it, I do . . . and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this. The grace of Christ is always counter-cultural.  In a world of play to win and what’s in it for me, we are called to love our enemies and pray for them, forgive those who offend us, hurt when others are hurting and seek what is best for all, not just the self, or the self’s tribe.  To be true to the message of God’s grace is to open one’s self to ridicule, to hear the names and see the looks of disdain and more.  Christ felt the ultimate that disdain could bring, and he cried from the cross, “Father, forgive them.”  All too often today, it is the voices of religion that speak the loudest words of disdain, hate and fear, Father forgive them for they know not what they do.  All too often it is the religious fanatics that see the world through an “our tribe vs. their tribe” frame of mind, Father forgive them for they know not what they do.  All too often, religion is used as a cover for those who wish to grab wealth and power; Father, forgive them, even if they do know what they are doing, they still don’t get it and they know not what they do.  All too often, it is the children of God who have learned to keep silent rather than bringing forth the message in word and deed, Father, forgive them.  If you are one of the silent ones, know you are forgiven, and called once again to speak the life giving words of Christ, Father, forgive them.