Today's Word
"Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us."
Matthew 6:12
Today's Reflection
Every time we say the Lord's Prayer, we say something extraordinary.
We ask God to forgive us in the same way that we forgive others.
Read that again.
Not: forgive us, and separately, help us to forgive others.
But: forgive us as we forgive.
We are asking God to measure his mercy to us
by the measure of mercy we extend to others.
This is either the most comforting line in Scripture
or the most terrifying,
depending on how you are doing on forgiveness.
Most of us say the Lord's Prayer without pausing at this line.
We rush through it the way we rush through many familiar things.
But if we mean what we are saying,
we are making a claim about our own lives every time we say it.
We are telling God: I forgive as I am forgiven.
Is that true?
Today's Prayer
Lord, I say this prayer without thinking.
Help me to think today about what I am actually asking for.
Where I have withheld forgiveness, soften me.
Where I have been proud, humble me.
Let my mercy toward others be as real as my need for yours.
Amen.
Today's Call
Say the Lord's Prayer slowly today, pausing at "as we forgive those who trespass against us."
Sit with that line.
Notice what it brings up.