I was guest today in the program of Bishop Chito Tagle, "Light Talk". It is being aired every Sunday at 11 pm every Sunday. Quite late but it is worth it. Our topic was "Sin and Forgiveness".
It is interesting to note that the tagalog word for "sin", "sala", says so much about its nature. "Sala", which translates in english, "to miss the mark", is really about missing the mark. One sins when he veers away from his designated path. One sins when he steps out of the path of God. One sins when he adapts a direction that will not end with God. This much can help us understand sin.
If God is our goal. If to be with Him is our destiny. If we believe that our hearts will never rest until it rests in God, then we should stay on path and do everything to reach our goal and destiny who is God.
God's answer to our sinfulness is forgiveness. The value and reason of forgiveness had been questioned so many times. Its true purpose and value had been doubted. But what should be our response to sin? Sin? Revenge? Getting even? Are these really solutions or are they really doors to further sins? The latter seems to be the truth. Sin spirals to greater sins when we address them not with forgiveness. Only forgiveness puts it to a stop.
We can now understand why the Lord Jesus, instead of wielding His power and authority on those who crucified Him, uttered words of forgiveness while dying on the cross. While it is true that there are still sins today, we must admit that it could have been worse if there are no Christians who live forgiveness. The world is with hope because of the call and response to forgiveness. Our life had been with livable because of people who are willing to give others a second, third, or even a fourth chance.
It is interesting to note that many still had not discovered the beauty and greatness of forgiveness. God had given us a very good example. Are we not glad that God is God? If anyone of us had been God, where do you think we will all be? The fact that God is God gives us a chance to be forgiven. We are better understood by the God that we have. We do not anymore deserve life by the sins we had committed. But because God loves us so much, even giving His own Son to die for us, we continue to live and we are given so much chances to redeem our lives.
"Forgive us our sins. As we forgive those who sin against us." This is part of the prayer taught to us by the Lord Jesus. It is a perfect prayer because it came from Jesus. It is a perfect prayer because it contains everything that a prayer must have. Forgiveness is at the heart of the teaching of Jesus . It is at the heart of the Christian faith. Every Christian is expected to forgive. Forgiveness re-connect that which had been disconnected. It unites what had been divided. It heals what had been wounded. It perfects what is wanting. Therefore, if we want to be complete, to be full, to be one, we must forgive and ask forgiveness. There is no other way. There is no other choice. There is no other.
How many times must we forgive? Not seven times, but seventy times seven times!
It is interesting to note that the tagalog word for "sin", "sala", says so much about its nature. "Sala", which translates in english, "to miss the mark", is really about missing the mark. One sins when he veers away from his designated path. One sins when he steps out of the path of God. One sins when he adapts a direction that will not end with God. This much can help us understand sin.
If God is our goal. If to be with Him is our destiny. If we believe that our hearts will never rest until it rests in God, then we should stay on path and do everything to reach our goal and destiny who is God.
God's answer to our sinfulness is forgiveness. The value and reason of forgiveness had been questioned so many times. Its true purpose and value had been doubted. But what should be our response to sin? Sin? Revenge? Getting even? Are these really solutions or are they really doors to further sins? The latter seems to be the truth. Sin spirals to greater sins when we address them not with forgiveness. Only forgiveness puts it to a stop.
We can now understand why the Lord Jesus, instead of wielding His power and authority on those who crucified Him, uttered words of forgiveness while dying on the cross. While it is true that there are still sins today, we must admit that it could have been worse if there are no Christians who live forgiveness. The world is with hope because of the call and response to forgiveness. Our life had been with livable because of people who are willing to give others a second, third, or even a fourth chance.
It is interesting to note that many still had not discovered the beauty and greatness of forgiveness. God had given us a very good example. Are we not glad that God is God? If anyone of us had been God, where do you think we will all be? The fact that God is God gives us a chance to be forgiven. We are better understood by the God that we have. We do not anymore deserve life by the sins we had committed. But because God loves us so much, even giving His own Son to die for us, we continue to live and we are given so much chances to redeem our lives.
"Forgive us our sins. As we forgive those who sin against us." This is part of the prayer taught to us by the Lord Jesus. It is a perfect prayer because it came from Jesus. It is a perfect prayer because it contains everything that a prayer must have. Forgiveness is at the heart of the teaching of Jesus . It is at the heart of the Christian faith. Every Christian is expected to forgive. Forgiveness re-connect that which had been disconnected. It unites what had been divided. It heals what had been wounded. It perfects what is wanting. Therefore, if we want to be complete, to be full, to be one, we must forgive and ask forgiveness. There is no other way. There is no other choice. There is no other.
How many times must we forgive? Not seven times, but seventy times seven times!
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