From the Pastor

Christ’s Church is commissioned to carry out the task of offering forgiveness and the retaining of sin (John 20:22-33). Yet, how much healing has not happened because we refuse to forgive? When we retain sins that God has forgiven, we misuse the commission God has given us. We have the great privilege to convey the message of God’s forgiveness to the world, and to be forgiven, we confront and name our sins and the claim and damage that sin has upon our personal and social lives.

I note that this forgiving and retaining of sins is not about us deciding who deserves forgiveness, or who goes to heaven or hell. Rather, it is about us taking the initiative in offering forgiveness with the hope of being reconciled. Reconciliation facilitates peace and harmony. Remember: “Peace be with you, as the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21).

Let us pray to our God of mercy who fills our lives with love and joy: God, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for he is alive and has become the Lord of life. From the waters of death, you raise us with him and renew your gift of life within us. Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ. May we grow as your people toward the fullness of eternal life with you, through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

(Book of Common Worship)

Paul the Apostle chose to share in the sufferings of Christ (Philippians 3:4-12). “Sharing in the sufferings of Christ” is not remaining in an abusive relationship where one’s vulnerabilities and weaknesses are exploited and taken advantage of. Rather, “sharing the sufferings of Christ” is like this: “We suffer in likeness with Christ when we suffer ill at the hands of others because we desire and strive after the Good. As a matter of face, we can avoid suffering by ceasing to do the Good” (Soren Kierkegaard). How many times have we not suffered because we chose not to do the good and right thing?

We share in the sufferings of Christ when we extend mercy to those caught in sin; when we extend mercy to our enemies; when we speak up for the poor and dispossessed and do something about it; when we extend our friendship; when we help someone wrongly convicted; when we refuse to lash out in anger; when we refuse to cheat and lie to get ahead; when we refuse to operate from malicious motives. May we, within our abilities, share in the sufferings for Christ.

Let us pray to our God of mercy who fills our lives with love and joy: God, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for he is alive and has become the Lord of life. From the waters of death, you raise us with him and renew your gift of life within us. Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ. May we grow as your people toward the fullness of eternal life with you, through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

(Book of Common Worship)

Let us pray that God give us the courage to repent and turn to him and to people in love: Patient God, we are reluctant and slow to make the change of heart we need. Give us the time to understand the extent of your mercy and your love which your Son Jesus showed us in its fullness in his suffering and death. Recognize your own Son in us and accept us in our poverty. Raise us up and change us so that we proclaim your persistent love through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Claretian Publications)