Doug Krekling: Tuesday, March 10

Week 3 - Matthew 5:43-48

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

A Reflection on Forgiveness from Doug Krekling

If someone walked up to you who had caused you great harm and pain, then, at a later time, asked you for forgiveness for their wrong doing, what would you say or how would you behave toward that person?  Jesus commands us to ”. . . love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Jesus also instructs us to step outside of our comfort zone with an out-stretched hand to the other, the different, to the unfamiliar - ”And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?"

Corrie ten Boom, a Holland-born Christian whose family hid Jews from the Nazis and who was a World War II survivor of Ravensbrück concentration camp, knew all too well what it meant to be unexpectedly confronted by a persecutor who asked for her forgiveness. 

In 1947, two years following the end of WWII, she was giving a talk at a church in Munich, Germany, on the restorative power of God’s forgiveness. During her talk she mentioned her Ravensbrūck concentration camp experience where she endured much pain, suffering and where her sister died. Following her talk, a man approached her.  She recognized him as one of the guards from the concentration camp, but he did not recognize her. Her blood froze. He extended his hand, saying that since then he had become a Christian, and he knew that God forgave him of the cruel things he had done, but he wanted to hear from her lips that she personally forgave him.

Corrie ten Boom was challenged to forgive her captor. She was momentarily unable to lift her hand to shake his. But when she finally extended her hand to his hand, the “current” and power of God’s forgiveness powerfully flowed into their joined hands, and she cried out, “I forgive you, brother!…with all my heart!”

God’s forgiving and loving grace creates light where there is darkness, hope where there is despair, healing where there is pain. Who can you extend your hand to in God’s loving forgiveness?  “God’s work, our hands” has a whole new meaning.

O Lord, please help guide us into a deeper faith of knowing and trusting you. Help us to remember that your forgiving, healing and loving grace can flow through our out-stretched hand even when we think we're unable to welcome, to forgive and to love. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray.  Amen.