Forgiveness

“Therefore I tell you, all you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions” Mark 11:24-26


Ahhhhh…forgiveness. What a beautiful thing. What a wonderful word. What a difficult task at times!

This passage is at the end of the “Withered Fig Tree” passage where the disciple shows Jesus that the tree he cursed has died and Jesus explains that it is the power of faith. (Mark Ch 4 go read it)

Poor fig tree, it never had a chance. When I read this passage I always wonder why cursing the fig tree was necessary to Jesus? And Mark, being such a meat and potatoes journalist isn’t going to tell me. So I am left to my own imagination. Was the fig tree a harmless example of the power of God that lived in Jesus? Did it actually happen? What is the point? As I read on it almost seems disjointed. How does the fig tree relate to my ability to forgive or ask for forgiveness?

There are times when I feel like the withered fig tree. I have dried up and died, not because the Lord cursed me but because I have chosen to. I am sure everyone has those experiences. But then I pray, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit I find my life again. When I pray I am confident that I will be heard and guided…just as Jesus tells me to be. However, I don’t always ask for forgiveness and I don’t always give it. What an interesting turn in the story. I can’t help but wonder if Jesus feels bad about cursing the poor fig tree. It was a casualty in the mission.

How many people or living things become casualties in our own personal mission?

How many times have we chosen to dig our heels in and either not extended a loving hand of forgiveness or not asked for it. Afterall we are right!

We are all in need of forgiveness. We all need to forgive someone for something. Jesus is plainly telling us that it isn’t enough to bring your petitions to God, you must also stand there at least wanting a clean slate. How can God work in us if we are muddying our souls with grievances. I ask myself often when my nose gets out of joint, “why am I so upset?”. It generally comes back to pride, I am not proud to say. It comes back to ignorance, pettiness, anger…just plain immaturity. (Ask my husband, he can tell you! :)) But God knows that I don’t really want to be that way, and God knows that I have better plans for my time and my emotions.

So I ask the Lord today to remind me that I need to not only have faith that my prayers will be heard but that I have to have a willingness to ask for forgiveness and extend forgiveness. To help me to see his people with the heart of compassion, not the “eye of my own understanding” (st Teresa of Avila). Help me to be an example of his love and forgiveness to others. I need a good pruning.