In the midst of this pandemic, it may be easy and perhaps even reasonable to get upset and point fingers at the people who may be responsible for the inconvenience – physically, financially or emotionally – that we may have experienced. In fact, I have recently been in that situation.
Let us, however, consider what Jesus says in Matthew 5:23-24
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar. First, go and be reconciled to your brother”
and in Matthew 18:15
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over”
TLDR – Jesus is saying that the ball is in our court to reconcile with whoever has wronged us. This, however, is not the easiest thing to do.
Let us, however, consider again what Jesus is trying to tell us through the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15). Jesus highlights the father’s feelings and actions towards his son who had robbed him financially and emotionally – is our sin towards God not worse than that? Yet, like the father, God’s heart towards us is filled with compassion, love, and forgiveness. He is willing to absorb the debt that we owe, and He has demonstrated it through what His Son has done at the cross.
Let us, therefore, remember what our God and Father has done for us through the work of Jesus Christ, His Son, that we now have power from within through the Holy Spirit to not merely forgive but even love those who have brought about inconvenience or even wronged us so that the commands of Jesus – “love one another, as I have loved you” (John 13 & 15) – may be fulfilled.
