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Forgiveness by Rev. Frances D. Montgomery, NST, CM
June 22nd, 2018 11:05 pm     A+ | a-
Colossians 3: 13 “bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone, forgive as the Lord forgave you.  Forgiveness is one as the greatest acts of faith and a true sign of faithfulness to the Lord.  We must forgive because we have been forgiven.”

None of us is as perfect as Jesus was, no matter how diligently we try.

In these days of scams on every side it is difficult to be trusting of anyone.  It is even more frustrating to attempt to forgive those who cause us so much stress nearly daily with senseless mass shootings of innocent people for no reason – how can we find it in our hearts to forgive the perpetrators of such evil, such hurt and heartbreak for innocent families? 

The answers are obscure, if there even is an answer we are capable of understanding. 

I am well aware of the teachings of Jesus – In Mathew Chapter 18 verses 21 and 22 Peter asks Jesus “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? until seven times?”  Jesus tells Peter “I say not unto thee, until seven times:  but until seventy times seven.” 

I understand the teaching of Jesus but in today’s times of violent atrocities beyond what was even imaginable in Biblical days forgiveness seems nearly impossible.

The only way I personally can reconcile any of this Spirit brought to me through the book “The Shack” by William P. Young which was a best seller.  I read the book and saw the movie, which I thought was well done.  I would recommend to anyone who isn’t familiar with either that you read the book, that you see the movie or do both.

In that book, which caused outrage in the beginning, I came to think things through and realize a truth.  The truth I recognized is that Infinite Intelligence created each soul of every human being on earth.  No matter the good or evil a person does during their lifetime, that soul was created by God Force, the same Infinite Intelligence that created us, you and me. 

It isn’t a matter of approving of atrocities, it is a matter of realizing the depravity of the soul who perpetrates the evil and being able to send healing prayer to the injurer as well as to the injured. 

It is difficult to be nonjudgmental – we aren’t accepting the wrongs that have been done, we are trusting Infinite Intelligence who is always loving and forgiving to deal with those souls and allow them to grow forward in the light of Jesus and Love. 

Karma is a Natural Law.  How and when those souls make restitution is God’s business, not ours.  It is our business to send prayer and healing, forgiveness as best we are capable and to withhold judgement of those who do wrong.  The energy of our prayer for healing for those injured as well as for those who do injury speaks to the growth and enlargement of our own personal souls.  

Granted, we are angry beyond expression.  True, we want the wrong doers caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the civil laws.  It is only fair and just that the rest of society be protected from the possibility of possible future peril from those individuals.

On the other hand it is not our job to judge unless we are on the jury under civil law.  Our job is to send all the energy we are capable of directing for the task of healing.  Healing for the highest and best good of all concerned.

Luke 6 verse 37 states in the words of Jesus:  “Judge not and ye shall not be judged: condemn not and ye shall not be condemned:  forgive and ye shall be forgiven.”

As Spiritualists we do honor and attempt to live by the teachings of Jesus.  Therefore our sixth Principle: “We believe that the highest morality is contained in the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” as well as our seventh Principle: “We affirm the moral responsibility of individuals, and that we make our own happiness or unhappiness as we obey or disobey Nature’s physical and spiritual laws.” most certainly apply as we attempt to forgive and send healing to others for both their and our highest and best spiritual  growth is the only way we can react as we walk the Spiritual Path. 

My prayer for all of us is that Spirit assist us to deal with atrocities in this manner; with the prayer of healing, forgiving and releasing the negative energies of anger and hatred. 

May Infinite Intelligence bless, strengthen and lift us to that capability. 
God Bless.
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