TWENTY FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
SEPTEMBER 13, 2020
FORGIVENESS AND REDEMPTION
A TRUE STORY COMES OUT OF WORLD WAR II. RUDOLPH HOSS WAS A CONVICTED NAZI WAR CRIMINAL. HE WAS THE LONGEST SERVING COMMANDANT OF AUSCHWITZ EXTERMINATION CAMP. HE INTRODUCED THE ZYKLON B INTO THE GAS CHAMBERS TO ACCELERATE HITLER’S PLAN TO SYSTEMATICALLY EXTERMINATE THE JEWISH POPULATION.
AT THE NUREMBERG TRIALS RUDOLPH HOSS ADMITTED TO KILLING 3 MILLION INNOCENT PEOPLE. HE WAS CONDEMNED TO HANGING.
ON APRIL 10 1947 HOSS RETURNED TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. HE WENT TO CONFESSION TO A JESUIT PRIEST. HE RECEIVED HOLY COMMUNION THE NEXT DAY.
SHORTLY BEFORE HIS EXECUTION THIS IS WHAT HE WROTE: MY CONSCIENCE COMPELS ME TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING DECLARATION… IN THE SOLITUDE OF MY PRISON CELL, I HAVE COME TO THE BITTER RECOGNITION THAT I HAVE SINNED GRAVELY AGAINST HUMANITY.
I ASK THE POLISH PEOPLE FOR FORGIVENESS. MAY THE LORD GOD FORGIVE ME WHAT I HAVE DONE?
COULD THE POLISH PEOPLE EVER FORGIVE RUDOLPH HOSS? COULD THE JEWS EVER FORGIVE RUDOLPH HOSS? COULD GOD FORGIVE RUDOLPH HOSS?
THIS GOSPEL IS ABOUT SIN, FORGIVENESS AND REDEMPTION.
EVERY SIN IS AN OFFENSE AGAINST GOD. EVERY SIN IS AN OFFENSE AGAINST HUMANITY. EVERY SIN RACKS UP A DEBT THAT MUST BE PAID OFF.
OUR REBELLIONS, OUR SELFISH ACTS AND THOUGHTS, OUR WILLFUL CHOICES, OUR LOVELESSNESS TOWARD ONE ANOTHER, AND THE HURT WE HAVE CAUSED OTHERS, OUR PRIDE, OUR ANGER, OUR LUSTS, OUR BITTERNESS, OUR HATES, AND OUR LIES ADD UP THROUGH THE YEARS. HUMANITY OWES A STAGGERING DEBT TO GOD. THERE IS NO WAY ANYONE OF US COULD POSSIBLY PAY OFF THAT DEBT. THAT’S WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY THAT THE WORLD NEEDS A SAVIOR.
ON THE CROSS JESUS SAYS “FATHER FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO”. AFTER FORGIVING US HE SAYS: “IT IS FINISHED.” WHAT IS FINISHED? THE REDEMPTION OF THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE IS FINISHED. JESUS IS THE REDEEMER.
NOT ONLY DOES THE FATHER FORGIVE OUR SINS BUT JESUS, THE SON OF GOD PAYS OUR DEBT TO THE FATHER, IN FULL. NOT WITH PERISHABLE THINGS SUCH AS SILVER OR GOLD, BUT WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST,
THROUGH HIS PASSION AND DEATH JESUS WIPED AWAY THE DEBT. IN ONE MOMENT IT WAS GONE. BEFORE GOD WE STOOD CLEANSED, BLAMELESS, AND FREE. JESUS PAID THE DEBT AND SET US FREE.
THAT IS WHAT WE MEAN BY REDEMPTION. THAT IS WHY WE CALL JESUS OUR REDEEMER. ONLY JESUS, THE SON OF GOD COULD POSSIBLY PAY OFF THE DEBT OF RUDOLPH HOSS, HITLER, STALIN, LENIN, AND MAO TSE DONG WHO KILLED 65 MILLION CHINESE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT FREELY ACCEPT SOCIALISM.
PEOPLE DO NOT FREELY FALL FOR SOCIALIAM. THAT’S WHY THERE IS CHAOS AND DESTRUCTION IN THE STREETS.
THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN RELIGION IS THE ONLY WORLDVIEW THAT GIVES CREDIBLE HOPE OF FORGIVENESS AND REDEMPTION. THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN RELIGION IS THE ONLY WORLDVIEW THAT HAS A MANDATE FROM GOD: “WHOSE SINS YOU FORGIVE, WILL BE FORGIVEN”. THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN RELIGION IS THE ONLY WORLDVIEW THAT HAS EXPLICIT POWER FROM GOD TO TAKE AWAY GUILT AND SET A PERSON FREE.
THE PARABLE IN THIS GOSPEL IS POWERFUL BECAUSE JESUS MAKES IT VERY CLEAR THAT NOTHING WE HAVE TO FORGIVE CAN COMPARE, EVEN FAINTLY, WITH THE DEBT THAT GOD HAS FORGIVEN US.
THE WORD FORGIVENESS APPEARS 150 TIMES IN THE BIBLE.
JESUS TELLS PETER AND THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES THAT GOD EXPECTS US TO FORGIVE SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN TIMES. THIS PHRASE DOES NOT MEAN 490 TIMES. IT MEANS AN INFINITE NUMBER OF TIMES.
JESUS TELLS PETER THAT WE NEVER COME TO THE END OF FORGIVENESS. JESUS TELLS PETER WE NEVER SAY: NOT THIS TIME.
A MAN MADE A HORRIBLE DECISION. HE LEFT HIS WIFE AND HIS CHILDREN FOR THE SAKE OF A NEW AND PASSIONATE LOVE AFFAIR. HE DID HIS BEST TO CONVINCE HIMSELF THAT HE WAS MAKING THE BEST CHOICE FOR THE YEARS HE HAD LEFT. HE EVEN FOUND PROFESSIONALS WHO SUPPORTED HIS CHOICE. HE THOUGHT HE WOULD BE HAPPY.
HIS CONSCIENCE WOULD NOT LEAVE HIM ALONE. HE THOUGHT ABOUT HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN HE THOUGHT ABOUT THE YEARS THEY HAD INVESTED IN HIM. HE THOUGHT HOW HE HAD FOREVER CHANGED THE FUTURE OF HIS FAMILY. HE REALIZED THAT HIS LIFE WAS A MESS. ALL OF THIS FOR A FEW HUNDRED DAYS IN BED
THANK GOD, THROUGH THE CONSTANT PRODDING OF GRACE THE MAN TURNED BACK TO GOD. AFTER RECEIVING FORGIVENESS HE DID ALL HE COULD TO HEAL THE HURT HE INFLICTED ON HIS FAMILY. HE WANTED TO BECOME A NEW PERSON. HE COULD NOT MEND THE BRIDGES THAT HE BURNED, BUT HE BELIEVED THAT HE HAD A SAVIOR WHO COULD HEAL.
BY THE END OF HIS LIFE HIS CHILDREN AND EVEN HIS WIFE, RECOGNIZED THAT HIS GOODNESS HAD OVERCOME THE PAIN THAT HE INFLICTED ON THEM. THE WIFE REMEMBERS HER HUSBAND, THE CHILDREN REMEMBER THEIR FATHER FOR THE GOOD MAN HE HAD BECOME AFTER FORGIVENESS. THEY REMEMBER HIM AS THE MAN WHO BROUGHT THE LOVE OF JESUS TO THEM. HE DIED IN PEACE.
FORGIVENESS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE CONDONE OR EXCUSE BAD BEHAVIOR. FORGIVENESS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE GIVE PEOPLE PERMISSION TO REPEAT THEIR OFFENSES.
YOU KNOW SOMETHING? EVERY ONE OF US IS A SINNER. WE ALL STRUGGLE WITH FORGIVENESS.
THE MOVIE: “TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD” CONTAINS A MOVNG SCENE IN WHICH ATTICUS FINCH SAYS TO HIS CHILDREN. “IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND ANOTHER PERSON YOU MUST CRAWL INSIDE THEIR SKIN AND WALK AROUND WITH THEM.”
THAT’S AN EXCELLENT DESCRIPTION OF COMPASSION. COMPASSION MEANS TO BE ABLE TO GET INSIDE OTHER PEOPLE—TO SEE THROUGH THEIR EYES TO FEEL WITH THEIR FEELINGS AND THINK WITH THEIR THOUGHTS.
THE FRENCH HAVE A PROVERB THAT SAYS: “TO KNOW ALL, IS TO FORGIVE ALL”. THE POINT OF THE PROVERB IS THAT IF WE COULD GET INSIDE THE SKIN OF THOSE WHO HURT US AND EXPERIENCE THEIR LIFE, WE WOULD MORE LIKELY FORGIVE THEM.
IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND ANOTHER PERSON YOU DO WHAT GOD HIMSELF DID. IN THE MOST LITERAL SENSE, GOD, IN THE PERSON OF JESUS, CAME DOWN TO EARTH, CLIMBED INSIDE OUR SKIN, AND WALKED AROUND IN OUR SHOES.
HE BECAME A HUMAN BEING LIKE US. HE LOOKED THROUGH OUR EYES—HE LOVED THROUGH OUR HEARTS—HE THOUGHT WITH OUR MINDS—AND FELT WITH OUR EMOTIONS.
IF WE ARE TO FORGIVE THOSE WHO HURT US WE MUST MAKE THE CHOICE TO LIVE IN FREEDOM FOR THE FUTURE, OR TO DIE IN SLAVERY TO THE PAST.
REMEMBER THE MOVIE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION? TWO MEN WHO APPEAR BEYOND REDEMPTION ARE REDEEMED.
IN THAT MOVIE, WHILE HE IS IN PRISON, ANDY DUFRESNE SAYS TO FELLOW PRISONERS: “YOU HAVE A SIMPLE CHOICE. GET BUSY LIVING OR GET BUSY DYING”. WHEN YOU GET BUSY LIVING YOU MAKE THE MOST OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT LEAD TO A VIBRANT LIFE. WHEN YOU GET BUSY DYING YOU LIVE THE SAME WAY AS YOU ARE NOW.YOU DO NOTHING AND YOU DIE.
PEOPLE WHO DO NOT FORGIVE, DO NOTHING. THEY BECOME BITTER. THEY ARE BUSY DYING AND LITTLE BY LITTLE THEY SURELY DIE INSIDE.
PEOPLE ASK ME ALL THE TIME: WHAT DO I DO WHEN I FIND THAT I JUST CAN’T FORGIVE SOMEONE? THE INJUSTICE IS TOO OBVIOUS. THE HURT IS TOO GREAT. THE PAIN IS TOO INTENSE. WHAT DO I DO TO GET RID OF THE EMOTIONAL BLOCK THAT KEEPS ME FROM FORGIVING ANOTHER PERSON? DOES CHRISTIAN FORGIVENESS REALLY EXIST? IS CHRISTIAN FORGIVENESS REALLY POSSIBLE?
AT THE END OF WORLD WAR II, THERE WAS A LUTHERAN PASTOR, DR. RICHARD WURMBRAND. DR. WURMBRAND WAS A JEW WHO CONVERTED TO CHRISTIANITY. HE SUFFERED UNBELIEVEABLE TORTURES FOR 14 YEARS AT THE HANDS OF THE COMMUNISTS. HIS WIFE, ALSO A JEWESS, SUFFERED THE LOSS OF HER ENTIRE FAMILY IN THE HOLOCAUST.
ONE DAY AFTER THE WAR, A MAN CAME TO THEIR HOUSE. HE WAS A FORMER SS OFFICER. THIS TROUBLED MAN CONFESSED TO DR. WURMBRAND ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE HE WAS PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR KILLING.
THE PASTOR MENTIONED THE NAME OF A LITTLE VILLAGE. HE SAID TO THE MAN, HAVE YOU EVER KILLED ANYONE IN THIS LITTLE TOWN? THE SS OFFICER SAID, I KILLED EVERYONE IN THAT TOWN.
- WURMBRAND SAID HAVE YOU EVER ASKED GOD FOR FORGIVENESS? HE SAID: NO, I DON’T BELIEVE IN FORGIVENESS. I DON’T THINK I COULD EVER BE FORGIVEN WHAT I’VE DONE.
- WURMBRAND SAID TO HIM LET US SEE IF THERE IS SUCH A THING AS CHRISTIAN FORGIVENESS. HE THEN CALLED TO HIS WIFE WHO WAS UPSTAIRS. SHE DID NOT HEAR THE CONVERSATION.
HE SAID: SABENA HERE IS THE MAN WHO KILLED YOUR MOTHER YOUR FATHER YOUR THREE BROTHERS AND YOUR TWO SISTERS.
THE SS OFFICER TURNED HIS HEAD AWAY FROM HER IN FEAR AND IN SHAME.
SABENA PUT HER ARMS AROUND HIM AND SAID AS GOD FORGIVES YOU SO DO I FORGIVE YOU. THE SS MAN KNELT DOWN ON THE FLOOR AND SOBBED LIKE A LITTLE CHILD.
GENUINE CHRISTIAN FORGIVENESS IS NOT ONLY POSSIBLE BUT WITH THE GRACE OF GOD MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE SET THEMSELVES FREE BY FORGIVING THE UNFORGIVEABLE.
THE ALTERNATIVE TO FORGIVENESS IS RIGHT IN THIS GOSPEL.
HIS MASTER SUMMONED HIM AND SAID TO HIM, “YOU WICKED SERVANT! I FORGAVE YOU YOUR ENTIRE DEBT BECAUSE YOU BEGGED ME TO, SHOULD YOU NOT HAVE PITY ON YOUR FELLOW SERVANT, AS I HAD PITY ON YOU?
THEN IN ANGER HIS MASTER HANDED HIM OVER TO THE TORTURERS UNTIL HE SHOULD PAY BACK THE WHOLE DEBT.
SO WILL MY HEAVENLY FATHER DO TO YOU, UNLESS EACH OF YOU FORGIVES YOUR BROTHER FROM YOUR HEART?”