Lent Day 14 – Lenten Devotion – Thursday, March 5, 2026
I Will Sing of the Mercies of The Lord
Fillmore
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever
I will sing
I will sing
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord
With my mouth will I make known
Thy faithfulness
Thy faithfulness
With my mouth will I make known
Thy faithfulness to all generations
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever
I will sing
I will sing
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord
“Jesus said, “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world,
but in order that the world might be saved through him.””
Forgiveness is very personal. Forgiveness often means something different, to different people in different situations.
One of the questions I often ask couples preparing to get married, is if they have ways of forgiving each other. Often the response is mixed, one person will say, "yes," and the other person will say, "no." I quickly point out that if your idea of saying you are sorry is giving flowers and candy, and you think once you bring the flowers and candy home you are forgiven, you may be in for a bit of a surprise. Likewise, I try to tell the couple, if the flowers and candy are part of the ritual, just because you put the flowers in water and snack on a little of candy does not mean you have to move to forgiveness until you are ready.
My point is this - if one person does not know the other is truly sorry, how can they accept the apology and start the journey to forgiveness? And just as important, just because someone says they are sorry does not mean forgiveness must immediately follow. Sometimes forgiveness can only be real and complete after thorough reflection and proper grief.
My other personal critical point on forgiveness is this: Just because our society, just because much of our upbringing, teaches us to forgive and to forget; I do not know how humans do this. Humans can forgive, and start clean. Humans can forgive, and go forward from a new starting point. I do not know anyone, other than God, who is able to completely forget. That those who love me, know I have hurt them and cannot forget, and yet they still forgive me and go forward with me is life-saving.
Paradise is knowing, God in the crucified and risen Christ makes clear to us how God forgives us - Jesus on the cross. When we are truly sorry and confess to the Lord all our sins, every last one, we are graced to see Paradise, to see just how completely personal the cross is; God's personal gift of forgiveness is given to each of us. Together we trust our God, who sent his Son not to condemn us but to save us, invites us to know Paradise, to sing of the mercies of the Lord, to trust his faithfulness to all generations, and to never forget his power and grace are personally given to us!
Let us pray: Lord, I wish I could forget all that I have ever done to hurt you or those you love and those who I love. Through your faithfulness and your mercies, help me sing again. Renew me in the power of your grace alone. Reveal Paradise to me in forgiveness. Personally give me again the Spirit that has been born in me again from above. In Jesus' name, I know I am never forgotten. Amen.
