From the Chaplain

Greetings to all

I hope you are keeping well - especially as the weather warms up. 

This week’s gospel reading is about forgiveness. 

Jesus tells a parable about a servant who cannot repay a huge financial debt. Fortunately for him, his master is moved by compassion and cancels the entire amount. The same servant then goes out and meets a peer who owes him a comparatively small amount of money. However, this time the servant refuses to be generous and has his debtor thrown into prison. When the master hears about this incident, he is angry about the lack of compassion and mercy that has been shown in turn and punishes the unforgiving servant.

How do you interpret that story?

What spiritual truths can you find?

Holding a grudge – especially if we see ourselves as having the moral high ground – gives us a sense of power over someone. Forgiving someone requires us to release that power. Asking for forgiveness is also deeply humbling because we must admit our mistakes as they really are. 

Our Christian faith is a faith about relationships - and forgiveness lies central to its belief and practice.

As Jesus taught us to pray …

Creator God.

Give us our daily bread,

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. 

May you have a peaceful fortnight enjoying the beauty and warmth of life.

Rev. Dr Rosalie Clarke

Chaplain

Art by Jorge Cocco Santangelo - from John W. Welch’s book, ‘The Parables of Jesus’.