Epiphany +7: Forgive
A weekly Epiphany devotional post for these 8 weeks of witness. Join us!
You can read here for a brief description of the liturgical season of Epiphany, and see previous Epiphany daybook 2019 posts here. Blessed Epiphany, friends!
Note: If you're reading this in email, the formatting usually looks much better at the website. Just click the post title to get there.
Look: Forgive Thy Brother, Scott Erickson
(Source)
I was introduced to this painting at a key moment in my life. Meditating on this image changed me. It gave me eyes to see the beauty of forgiveness even when the one responsible for the wounding seemed reluctant to participate in reconciliation.
The power of this image for me is that I can see myself in both places. The one with the arrows in his back and the one with the bow. I hope you’ll find some truth, goodness, and beauty in the image today as you reflect on Jesus’ weighty words on the meaning of forgiveness and Joseph’s encounter with his brothers.
One more note*. Because I know so many who’ve experienced trauma, and because of my own experience of trauma, I always feel it’s important to say that there are various ways and timelines of offering forgiveness. Please feel free to view this image as something that takes place in the heart, and not always a literal physical interaction. There are those who we may never see again in person because they are no longer here or because they’re not whole enough to be trusted with our physical presence. I believe the power of releasing someone into the hands of God’s righteous judgement frees us to love with or without a personal interaction.
*I share much of what I’ve learned about forgiveness for those who’ve experienced trauma at this post: Feast On Forgiveness.
Listen: “Words to Build A Life On” from Songs from Jacob’s Well, Mike Crawford and His Secret Siblings (Lyrics)
Spotify | YouTube
I don’t usually print the song lyrics, but this song is worth paying attention to every word. Like the painting above, this song came into my life at a critical moment when I needed eyes to see the blessing in what felt like a curse. You can read more about that time here: Lucky.
by Mike Crawford
These are words to build a life on
These are Your words how can they be mine
These are words to build a life on
These are Your words I want them to be mine
Blessed are the poor
Blessed are the weak
Blessed are the ones
Who can barely speak
Blessed in your hurt
Blessed in your pain
Blessed when your teardrops
Are falling down like rain
Blessed when you’re broken
Blessed when you’re blind
Blessed when you’re fragile
When you have lost your mind
Blessed when you’re desperate
Blessed when you’re scared
Blessed when you’re lonely
Blessed when you’ve failed
Blessed when you’re beat up
Blessed when you’re bruised
Blessed when you’re tore down
Blessed when you’re used
These are words to build a life on
These are Your words how can they be mine
These are words to build a life on
These are Your words I want them to be mine
Blessed when you’re heartbroke
Blessed when you’re fired
Blessed when you’re choked up
Blessed when you’re tired
Blessed when the plans
That you so carefully laid
End up in the junkyard
With all the trash you made
Blessed when you feel like
Giving up the ghost
Blessed when your loved ones
Are the ones who hurt you most
Blessed when you lose your
Own identity
Then blessed when you find it
And it has been redeemed
Blessed when you see what
Your friends can never be
Blessed with your eyes closed
Then Blessed you see Me
These are words to build a life on
These are Your words how can they be mine
These are words to build a life on
These are Your words I want them to be mine
Blessed when you’re hungry
Blessed when you thirst
Cause that’s when you will eat of
The bread that matters most
Blessed when you’re put down
Because of me you’re dissed
Because of me you’re kicked out
They take you off their list
You know you’re on the mark
You know you’ve got it right
You are to be my salt
You are to be my light
So bring out all the flavour
In the feast of this My world
And light up all the colours
Let the banners be unfurled
Shout it from the rooftops
Let the trumpets ring
Sing your freaking lungs out
Tell them Jesus Christ is King!
Jesus is my Saviour
Jesus is divine
Jesus is my answer
Jesus is my life
These are words to build a life on
These are Your words how can they be mine
These are words to build a life on
These are Your words I want them to be mine
Give us ears that we may hear them
voice that we may sing them
life that we may live them
hope that we may give them
hearts that we can feel them
eyes that we can see them
thoughts that we may think them
tongues that we may speak Your words
Your words
These are Your words
I want them to be mine
Be mine
Be mine
Listen to my entire playlist on Spotify: Epiphany - Beatitudes. Add it to your account by clicking ‘Follow.’
Read:
Sunday - Genesis 45:3-11, 15; Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40; 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50; Luke 6:27-38
Monday (2/25) - Psalm 106:1-18; Ruth 1:1-14; 2 Corinthians 1:1-11; Matthew 5:1-12
Tuesday (2/26) - Psalm 121, 122, 123; Ruth 1:15-22; 2 Corinthians 1:12-22; Matthew 5:13-20
Wednesday (2/27) - Psalm 119:145-176; Ruth 2:1-13; 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:17; Matthew 5:21-26
Thursday (2/28) - Psalm 131,132; Ruth 2:14-23; 2 Corinthians 3:1-18; Matthew 5:27-37
Friday (3/1) - Psalm 140, 142; Ruth 3:1-18; 2 Corinthians 4:1-12; Matthew 5:38-48
Saturday (3/2) - Psalm 137:1-9; Psalm 144; Ruth 4:1-17; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:10; Matthew 6:1-16
Excerpts:
“And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.
So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.”
*
”Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.
Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.”
*
”So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.”
*
”‘Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.’”
Sunday Scripture readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary (Year C). Daily Scripture readings are taken from the Book of Common Prayer (Year 1), using the Psalm selections for Morning Prayer.
Pray:
“O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing; Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.”
Do:
Forgive thy other
(another image from Scott Erickson)
While all of us need daily reminders to let others off the hook for the ways they’ve hurt, belittled, dismissed, and offended us (see: the Lord’s Prayer), a majority of us are also dealing with experiences of deep wounding from abuse, neglect, and rejection. As I've journeyed these past fourteen years or so with men and women seeking healing for their relationships, and as I've walked my own bumpy path learning to give and receive good love, I've discovered four major roadblocks to forgiveness. I offer them for you to consider, gently and patiently with yourself (and others):
We believe surrendering to forgiveness equals ignoring wrongdoing.
We've become so familiar with the energy anger and bitterness give us, we're afraid we'll no longer recognize ourselves if we release our wounders.
We convince ourselves that we aren't really hurt and, therefore, do not need to forgive.
We already prayed to forgive our offender once and that was enough/it didn't work.
When we feast on unforgiveness, we are never satisfied. There is no justice available to remove the anguish of our wounded selves. When we feast on the Bread of Life, we release ourselves (and our offenders) to His mercy and justice and find ourselves hungry no more.
We are full on the only sort of nutrient that lasts for eternity -- the body and blood of Christ. And we are glad.
I will pray for all of us this week to experience the gladness of forgiveness, friends.
You can find other activities for Epiphany at this post: 12+ Ways To Keep Celebrating With the Rest of the World (loads of links).
(See all Epiphany Daybook posts from 2018 here.)