Open Reflections

The Lord’s Prayer in eight parts

Part 6

για Ελληνικά πατήστε εδώ

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us

We live in an environment where information is immediate, continual and covers the whole planet. At the same time, we belong, move and work in our town, neighbourhood, family. Moreover, we have been brought up imbued with our Faith’s values, that is in the spiritual ambience of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. We are, therefore, in a position of responsibility, social as well as Christian. and it is natural to be expected to make appropriate decisions at all levels.

We constantly confront situations where we have to exercise discretion in order to obtain best results. Exercising discretion means to have a clear understanding and pure intentions. Clarity of perception and purity of purpose bear their own significance in leading us close to the success of our endeavours.

How, then, can we cleanse our understanding and purify our intentions? The answer is simple; we have been taught from a tender age the prayer Jesus Himself gave to His Apostles: the Lord’s Prayer, what is widely knows as “Our Father”. “…and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”

We recognise that oftentimes we make mistakes, we sin, we nurture negative thoughts and ill-will towards other persons, we become vengeful, overly demanding, judgemental towards people who may do some things we have also done or continue to do , and so on.

The word “sin” in Greek is ‘AMAPTIA, (α + μέρος), (hamartίa, “a” privative + part /place / spot) ) meaning failure of the arrow to hit its target. This is the human condition. There are, however, ways to overcome such failure; not that we will always “hit the target”, i.e. find our aim, but we will not remain stuck in a state of sadness, anger, hopelessness or despair. On the contrary, we will not only be personally positively affected, but the ones we have wronged one way or the other will be too.

The humble and pragmatic admission that we have sinned is the first step. We ask the only One who can forgive us to free us from the bonds that drag us deeper and deeper into dark and dangerous paths. The second step is equally important; our willingness, in turn, to forgive those who in any way have harmed us.

Does this approach seem impossible? The Church faithful to her founder has always prompted us to follow His Word and example. In a few days we enter Holy Week. Let us be conscious of the weight of sin in the world and within ourselves that has led the Sinless One, The Son of God incarnate to His Passion. Christ suffered for our sake, in our place and in our name His Passion, the Cross and death. How aware are we of that?

This is what we call our Redemption; Christ redeemed us, i.e. He paid for our freedom by offering His own Life as ransom. Freedom from what? Freedom from the effects of sin, that is freedom from eternal death. Freedom for what? For our possibility to share Christ’s victory over sin and death and to walk the path of reconciliation, purification and sanctification through Him, with Him and in Him, for our redemption has been sealed, so to speak, by the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead!

We have good knowledge of the consequences of sin: discord, unhappiness, destitution, all kinds of injustice, war…

So, now, aware of the grand gift of salvation, we are able to approach our Lord Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of Confession and with deep repentance and sincere contrition be forgiven from our failures and sins. Our willingness and eagerness to forgive those who have wronged us is necessary for us to receive forgiveness; how can we expect to be forgiven without prior repentance of our wrongdoings? The straightforward and sincere confession of our sins, that is of our thoughts, acts or omissions that are contrary to His law of love cleanses, purifies, strengthens and renews us, restoring us in our being faithful sons and daughters of the Church, pleasing to God.

We confront sin and evil through our awareness of our need for repentance, metanoia (=meta + noo, μετά + νοώ = after thought, i.e. change of thinking), conversion, turning towards God at all times. The place and space par excellence for this encounter with God’s love in Christ is the Church, where all the graces of the Holy Spirit are offered in abundance.

All are called to hear and accept the Good Word, as the Eastern Christians say, meaning the Lord’s Resurrection.

Let us, therefore, obtain a clear perception of our own calling and mission as we live, move and work in our towns, neighbourhoods and family so as to successfully confront sin and evil in and around us.

click here for Greek