MATTHEW 18:21-35
The real history of Mother’s Day in the United States might surprise us. Three women (Ann Reeves Jarvis, Julia Ward Howe, and Ann’s daughter, Anna M. Jarvis) – who championed efforts toward better health, welfare, peace, and love contributed to the recognition of Mother’s Day.
When the US Civil War ended in 1865, more than half a million soldiers were dead, the economy was shattered, and people remained deeply divided politically. Ann Reeves Jarvis proposed a Mothers’ Friendship Day to promote peace between former Union and Confederate families.
There is always great suffering when friends and families are shattered and unwilling to forgive.
The gospel of Jesus Christ brings the promise of peace and reconciliation with God and with our fellow men. Peter wanted to know how often he should forgive a brother who offended him (Matt. 18:21), Jesus surprised everyone with His answer of “seventy times seven” (Matt.18:22).
It is abnormal for any man to count offenses for four hundred and ninety times (seventy times seven). In other words Jesus was saying, “keep forgiving.”
Jesus also told an indelible story about a servant who had received forgiveness and failed to pass it on (Matt. 18:23-35). As God freely forgives us, so He requires that we extend forgiveness to others.
By the grace of God and the power of His Spirit, forgiveness is always possible.
Forgiveness is Christianity in action.
* Father, forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
