Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“He said to them, ‘When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.’”
NL Daily Devotion for Sunday, September 6, 2020
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Main Idea: We are invited to practice the vulnerable art of receiving forgiveness.
We’ve looked many weeks this year at the challenging task of forgiving others. This week we look at the monumental task of receiving forgiveness. The prayer petition says, “forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.” How often we skip over the first part and focus on forgiving others!
Perhaps we’ve all known the person who is never sorry. No matter what, they can always find a reason it’s someone else’s fault. I broke your window? They shouldn’t make them so easy to break. I arrived late? The bleepity- bleeps on the road kept me from getting here on time. I hurt your feelings? You shouldn’t be so sensitive.
It’s frustrating, to be sure! But there’s something deeper going on here. That person (is it you?) can’t accept responsibilitybecausethey’veneverlearnedhowtoaccept forgiveness. There’s a vulnerability first to accepting our own faults, and second to acknowledging them to another, and third to accepting forgiveness from another. The very act of forgiveness is an intimate experience. It means allowing the other to see that we are broken. For some, this is excruciating. But to pretend we are flawless to protect our vulnerability also puts up walls that keep people out. Without vulnerability, we are unable to receive the depth of love offered to us.
God asks us first to be vulnerable in the presence of God—to ask God for forgiveness. God asks us to acknowledge our role, and then accept the forgiveness offered. Interestingly, once forgiveness has been received and accepted, instead of weakness and pain, we are given strength and relief. The more we practice the art of repentance and acceptance of forgiveness, the easier it becomes, and the more whole-hearted and authentic to ourselves we become.
How often do you prayer the Lord’s Prayer, or try to pray in the format the Lord’s Prayer instructs us in?
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