February 13, 2025, RFK Jr., newly installed HHS Secretary, commented: “We have a whole generation of kids that feel alienated, dispossessed. There’s a purposelessness in their lives and no sense of connectedness to their communities.”
Kennedy also argued a deeper spiritual alienation ”drives the chronic disease epidemic, and the epidemics we’re seeing of depression, suicide, alcoholism, and drug addiction.“
How refreshing to hear this former addict publicly exercise his freedom of religion by frequently describing the transformation God has made for/in him.
Still, friend, you and I naturally forget God. And when we understand God’s priorities, we often rebel.
But, Holy God, You found a way not to punish or condone our self-absorbed depravity but to forgive many through Jesus’ work on the cross.
“In Christ God was reconcilingc the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)
Holy God, why would you love sinners like us? Still, eternal Jesus, with matchless love, You took the interminable punishment of MANY, fulfilling God’s justice. God, then in great mercy You freely forgave MANY.
And what is for-giveness? Our English word helps. We find “for” multiplying “generosity” (givenness).
And who can out-multiply Jesus? “‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Seven times?’ ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” Then Jesus teaches: “Forgive your brother from your heart.” (Matthew 18:21,22, 35)
God, let us who are forgiven not be surprised You call us to forgive as You forgive. “Bear with one another. If one has a complaint against another, forgive each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians 3:12,13)
Now, hear Tolkein’s character, Gandalf, school Frodo and us in forgiveness/pity.
Frodo: “’It’s a pity Bilbo didn’t kill Gollum when he had the chance.’
Gandalf: “’Pity? It’s a pity that stayed Bilbo’s hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give pity to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum has some part to play in it for good or evil before this is over. Bilbo’s pity may rule the fate of many.’”
In due course, Bilbo’s pity in not killing Gollum enabled Gollum to play a crucial role in the destruction of the Ring.
In between times, Gandalf teaches Frodo human actions are limited and grace can work through unexpected means. Immediate actions can have immediate consequences. But, Frodo sees mercy showing the existence of long-range forces at play in Middle Earth.
Now, hear more from Jesus: “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.”(Luke 17:3,4) Friend, unexpectedly, large-hearted forgiveness calls us to exercise careful discernment.
This forgiveness Jesus has in mind is conditional – “if he repents.” Forgiveness extends your hand to shake the hand of a person who, as he repents, is taking your hand in reconciliation. When repentance is absent, the person forgiving is limited to a large-hearted being willing to forgive – he is left extending his hand without a reciprocal handshake.
And more. As there is breadth in Jesus’ teaching about forgiveness, the Bible gives us breadth in repentance.
In Luke 17:4, Jesus goes on to say: “And if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
In contrast, Paul writes: “Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. See what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.” (2 Corinthians 7:10,11) Holy Spirit, what zeal You produce in repentance.
Without repentance, large-hearted pity/forgiveness cannot bear the fruit of re-con-ciliation: “re” = “again” + “con” = “with” + “cilia” = “the circle.” Reconciliation reconnects the formerly divided in the circles of their lives.
Calling someone to true repentance calls that person to honor that they are made in the image of God. “Christianity’s insistence on the inestimable worth of every human being is revolutionary.” (First Things, James Orr, Jan. 31, 2025, edited) Holy Spirit, since You are the Source of true repentance, image bearers turn to You and ask for Your gift of repentance. See John 16:8.
God, when repentance is absent, we ask for You to be God. You may work repentance leading to genuine forgiveness, or You may choose to take vengeance.
Remember Jesus and Stephen as they died. Jesus called out: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’” (Luke 23:34) “As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’” (Acts 7:60)
As a result: “The centurion and those with him, keeping watch over Jesus (crucifixion), saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54) “A great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7)
On the other hand, God justly may choose not to forgive. “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19) “Flee from the wrath to come…bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Matthew 3:7,8)
Thus, when repentance and reconciliation are in process, large-hearted pity hovers/broods over the relationship as the Spirit hovered/brooded over the waters at creation.
Holy Spirit, You are the Holy Guest most to be desired. Grant us power to discern between your calling us to forgive or be willing to forgive.
