Reflecting on forgiveness at the Supper

Incredibly, Jesus, as he was dying, asked God to forgive those who were killing him. Are we really called to this kind of counter-cultural forgiveness? Are any sins unforgivable? What happens if we don't forgive? We came together Sunday evening to reflect on these question consider how to live as forgiven and forgiving people in our everyday lives.

Here, participants write messages (to share or not to share) to people they would like to forgive, and write confessions to God.

Our confessions were placed is this pan and burned as we affirmed to one another that yes, indeed, we have each been forgiven.

We watched the powerful clip below from The Mission, a movie I would highly recommend. It is the story of 18th century Jesuits who establish a mission in South America, of the slave trader who experiences transformation, and of the fate of the local indigenous community when the land where the mission is changes hands from Spain to Portugal. It is a devastating, provocative and beautiful story and one that says much with few words.

In this scene, a former mercenary (who had captured many indigenous people and sold them as slaves) has just left prison, where he had been sent for killing his own brother. He has been unwilling or unable to forgive himself for his many sins and has chosen his own penance.

After this scene, he joins the mission community, where he works and lives among the people. A powerful story of forgiveness and reconciliation.