 The active church year begins in September in most of our churches and tends to be a joyful and exciting time --when children return school and the harvest is gathered. However, for last five years, September also carries sad overtones. Since September 11, 2001, this month is a time of memories and reflection on where is God in the midst of tragedy, and of hope for reconciliation and peace. That is why this month’s featured resource is on reconciliation.
|
Just as Christ grieved more over our sin than over the injury our sin caused him, so we can grieve for others if Christ lives in us. “It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me,” wrote the apostle Paul (Galatians 2:20). Echoing those words, we can say, “It is not I who forgive, but Christ who forgives through me.”
Miroslav Volf, In Forgiveness, Sign Under God's Name . |
|
Materials from The Anatomy of Reconciliation, Trinity Institute’s conference, would make a good starting point for a discussion at an adult seminar in your congregation or for personal reflection and education. Although the conference took place back in January 2006 the relevance of the presentations and articles has only increased since then, and they can serve as great materials for an educational program. Speakers include: a theologian who experienced imprisonment and interrogation, a nun who brings hope and reconciliation to prison inmates and their victims, a former Southern Baptist who turned to Sufism (a mystical tradition in Islam), and other fascinating individuals reflectingon the meaning of forgiveness and reconciliation.
In addition to the transcripts and video records of their conference presentations, which are found here, you will also find a number of insightful articles by Miroslav Volf, Rowan Williams, Lindsay Lunnum and others, in Reconciliation: A Trinity News Companion. Of special interest is the review article Why Is Reconciliation So Hard? by Robert Owens Scott and W. Mark Richardson. I would like to conclude with a thought-provoking quote from Miroslav Volf’s article In Forgiveness, Sign Under God's Name:
“When we forgive we make God’s forgiveness our own; God forgives, and we take that divine forgiving and, in a sense, put our own signature underneath God's. When we forgive it is Christ who forgives through us.”
You may also be interested…
Peace and Justice
Ecumenical and Interfaith
|
