Sermon: "Forgive Us, as We Forgive"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

This week our country has followed the story of Timothy McVeigh … and we have remembered again the tragedy in Oklahoma City that he caused. Some of us may feel that the story has concluded appropriately now with Mr. McVeigh's death - or, at least, that a significant chapter of the story has closed. Others of us may believe that the tragedy of Oklahoma City has been compounded by his execution. But, for almost everyone, we have grieved again for victims of the event of April, 1995, and we also have experienced compassion once again for their families.

Then, today in our readings from the Bible, we have listened to lessons that we may not be prepared to hear, in light of the past week. But these are lessons that I believe to be very appropriate for us, nevertheless. Those readings focus our attention on a fundamental concept for Christianity: forgiveness.

At the very beginning of Psalm 32, the theme of forgiveness presents itself to us. The Psalmist opens his passage this way: "Happy - or, blessed - are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is put away!" There we are. Forgiveness cannot be avoided today, even though we might prefer to relish our vengeance or to puff ourselves up in self-righteousness. But, forgiveness demands our attention this morning.

In the Old Testament reading from Second Samuel, we see King David at his worst. Actually, it was just prior to this passage that David committed adultery with Bathsheba, and then, David made certain that Uriah - Bathsheba's husband - would be killed in battle. Not very appealing behavior for the king of God's people!

The prophet Nathan confronted David - first in an indirect way, with the story of the poor man and his lamb. When David became upset at hearing about the rich man who had the poor man's lamb killed, then Nathan spoke more directly as the Lord's prophet. He said to David, "You are the man!"

Following that confrontation comes an amazing and instant recognition. David readily accepts his own guilt. "I have sinned against the Lord," he affirms. And then, perhaps even more amazing comes this word of forgiveness from Nathan: "Now the Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die."

It is interesting that the words of Psalm 32 are thought to be an expression of David's reaction to this confrontation with Nathan. David had a hand in writing many of the psalms, and whether he wrote this one or not, the words certainly are appropriate to his circumstances: "Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is put away!"

In the reading from St. Luke's Gospel, we hear the subject of forgiveness addressed once again. However, in this case, the emphasis changes from the one who is forgiven to the one who forgives - and, especially, to the Lord who forgives. You may remember that the whole passage involves the theme of forgiveness. Jesus speaks of forgiving great debts, and he compares that to forgiving great sins. Jesus then expresses forgiveness toward the woman, characterized as "a sinner." Then, in amazement, the people say, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" You see, in traditional Jewish understanding, God alone could forgive sins. Jesus' word of forgiveness, therefore, was a truly remarkable thing.

I suspect, my friends, that we do not concentrate enough attention on the matter of forgiveness, nor do we understand it for the profound event that it is. Even though the Lord himself instructed us to pray, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us," still we do not appreciate the centrality of forgiveness to our Faith. We cannot expect God to forgive us for our various sin - known and unknown, intended and unintended - unless we are willing to forgive others who have wronged us. May we therefore look at those around us with new eyes and with greater care, recognizing our need to forgive them - perhaps even those closest to us.

Finally, in the reading from Galatians, St. Paul writes that we Christians "have been crucified with Christ." He affirms, "I no longer live but Christ lives in me." Therefore, using St. Paul's personal perspective, the sinner that I am has been crucified so that the Christ in me may live. Thus, I, who have been forgiven, am enabled by the Christ in me to forgive others. And that is indeed good news!

In conclusion, it is most appropriate that we claim our place along with the Psalmist, who proclaims, "Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is put away!" Happy, indeed, are we all that our transgressions are forgiven and that our sins are put away! Amen.

Copyright © 2001 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee