Feast Day 6 of 7 | Sixth Sunday of Lent
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21-22
It’s Palm Sunday. Jesus enters Jerusalem to accomplish our salvation and make way for the forgiveness of sins. The number seven comes into view as Peter’s guess for the number of times to forgive someone. Why is forgiveness so hard for us but made possible by the cross?
Julian of Norwich writes, “For I saw no wrath but on man’s part; and that forgiveth He in us. For wrath is not else but a forwardness and a contrariness to peace and love; and either it cometh of failing of might, or of failing of wisdom, or of failing of goodness: which failing is not in God but is on our part. For we by sin and wretchedness have in us a wretched and continuant contrariness to peace and to love.”
Julian of Norwich (c. 1342- c. 1416) in Revelations of Divine Love (Grand Rapids: CCEL, 1966), p. 51.
Peace and love sum up the posture of Christ on Palm Sunday. He comes in humility and generosity. His sacrifice will bring peace and show love. That’s the opposite of wrath. And He will conquer sin and wretchedness to rid us of the contrariness in us to make way for us to exhibit humility, generosity, peace, and love. His seventy times seven forgiveness toward us will transform us from children of wrath to agents of forgiveness.
Jesus, thank you for forgiving me. Help me forgive others. Amen.
Palm Sunday is about making way for the Lord. We do this by confession and through forgiving others.
Do you have any sin to confess? Do it. He wants to work in you before working through you.
Next, is there anyone you need to forgive today? Forgive them. Make way for the Lord.