Reconciliation Discussion with Notes
Reconciliation
Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
What does it mean? (Dictionary)
the restoration of friendly relations
the action of making one view or belief compatible with another.
the action of making financial accounts consistent; harmonization - truth, balance, finding the reality of loss and gains - two sets of records are set side by side to look for discrepancies
Re - Con (with) - collimation (eyelash to eyelash)
Why is it important?
The cycle of the Oppressed becoming the oppressor - imprisoning to us
Isolates us
Our relationship with one person or thing affects our other relationships with things or people
This faith is about relationships
Part of our Call
What Jesus did on the cross - reconcile us to God
We are all one big family in creation and Christ - images of God - We are meant to tend the garden and hold dominion - How we relate to others is in some way how we relate to God.
Why do we need reconciliation? What was the cause?
Turned against our creator
This led to the destruction of relationships with ourselves, our purpose, our partners, our leadership, those we are meant to care for and the society around us.
Judges - No king
Did whatever was right in their own eyes
Bridging the Gaps/Tearing down the things that stand between us
Some part is natural as we grow in friendship and trust - we should be willing to do this work with anyone and everyone
Some are a lot less natural, bias, anger, resentment, fear, jealousy
Would you be willing/excited to have that person marry your daughter, brother or mother?
Take some time to think what are some the things that can stand in the way of you and others?
What stands in the way between the two of you?
Societal, structural, social, emotional, historical, mental, physical, spiritual
There are some barriers that are natural - distance, difference, objects, knowledge but it is important that we know how to and do overstep these at times.
Not ignoring difference, but taking account of it
How do we act out reconciliation?
Repentance and forgiveness
It is impossible for a wrong to be taken back, but it can be redeemed - It requires two people to come to one another - repentance and forgiveness
Repentance means not just saying or feeling sorry, but acting on it - changed action and life (How far? - again you can never make up for a wrong, so one could do everything and it not be enough, so we must be discerning and watch for the others to turn back to us too)
There is a lot of work that needs to be done by the repentant, but the difficult reality is that the forgiven has to practice mercy.
Both sides must come with sacrifice
Complete reconciliation may not be possible at first. - There may be a point where for reconciliation to be possible with you or God you have to step away (1 Corinthians 5:5 and cut the hand off, or the little yeast)
Hearts for Reconciliation (also faith)
Beatitudes - Poor in Spirit, Mourn, Meek, Hunger for Righteousness, Merciful, Pure in heart, Peacemakers
How do we enter into it for non-Christians?
Repent, forgive, challenge directional, accountable to themselves, make them face God
Confrontation
Whitewashed graves
Pick up their animal on the Sabbath
Saul thrown over the horse
Paul set free - Roman citizen
So What Can Reconciliation look like for us now?
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Truth
Acknowledgment
Sharing the story
Honouring
Acknowledgment
Supporting
Creating opportunities
Working
Repent and forgive
Dismantling and making space
Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
Repent
Come to me all that are heavy laden
Zaccadeus the tax collector
Forgiving others
- The Lord's prayer
- Cast the first stone
- Forgive 70*7 times
- Do not judge
When hurt:
Who will be more thankful those forgiven 5 or 50
- Prayer - Psalms
Punishment? Trust God's Punishment
- David
- Saul
- Babylon, Assyria, Egypt
- state punishment?
