Morning Prayer 2022 Day 54

God of New Life,

You call us to forgive, again and again, but Lord, IT. IS. HARD. TO. DO.

We hear people in headline stories say they forgive criminals for horrendous acts and we think, “how?”

We hear your words in today’s lesson and think, “7 times? How?”

Being hurt by others isn’t easily forgotten and some wounds are much deeper than others - it doesn’t feel fair that you would ask us to forgive. But God, you speak of forgiving the other because you know it will free us from our own prisons. When we hold on to the painful actions of others we build prisons of resentment and bitterness for ourselves. Our hearts grow weary and hard. We wall off the world and we close ourselves off from you. This text gets tossed around as a litmus test for the righteous and holy and most faithful - and if that were the actual measure, I would fail.

Walk into my self-made prison Lord. Sit here with me. Hear me as I name those who have hurt me and how their actions have damaged my ability to trust and live free of resentment and anger. Give me the strength to forgive that I might open the prison door and walk out, knowing you will be with me if I ever try to reenter this space of isolation. Sit here with me Lord.

Amen


Today’s Daily Scripture Reading

Luke 17: 1-4

Daily Scripture readings are adapted from the upcoming readings as outlined by the Revised Common Lectionary. They reflect the New Revised Standard Version.

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Morning Prayer 2022 Day 55

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Morning Prayer 2022 Day 53