Forgive Them

“If forgiveness truly is nothing but the empty shell that demands everything of the victim but nothing of the perpetrator. If forgiveness truly is nothing but the swallowing of the pain and the suppressing of the truth, then it is certainly worthy of discarding. And yet, if we take forgiveness away from justice, all that is left is vengeance.  And more and more, that is the choice that is set before us. Forgiveness without accountability …or vengeance without grace. And each is soul-killing in its dehumanization for victim and perpetrator; for judge, jury and accused. And so, we return to that core question of the cross … what would Jesus do … and in fact what is Jesus doing when he says these words? What is the justice of God? It cannot be either option. For the justice of God, the way of the cross, is not mimicking the cross in either its suppression of truth through fear …or vengeance which we anoint ourselves to execute on God’s behalf. The justice of God, the holiness of God demands both accountability and mercy, reparation and forgiveness.” Sermon by Mike Kinman from the Noon Service on Good Friday, April 2, 2021 at All Saints Church, Pasadena. Reading: Luke 23:26–43. Watch the sermon on YouTube at https://youtu.be/P02G0TjoIEs. Read the sermon text here: https://allsaints-pas.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/MK210402Good-Friday-Forgiveness.docx. Watch the entire service on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/7u6WdTimqQ4. Follow along with the service leaflet here: https://allsaints-pas.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/210402StreamingLitforGoodFri3hr-Noon.pdf. Join us every Sunday during the Covid era for services at 11:15 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. (and Rector's Forums at 10:00 a.m. when applicable). Know that you are loved! Follow All Saints Church on Twitter @ASCpas. Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsPasadena/. Donate to support the mission and ministries of All Saints at https://allsaints-pas.org/donate/donate-now/.