Over and Over Again

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21-2221 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

When I was a kid I loved to ride roller coasters and feel like I was falling over and over. The pressure and the panic were something to behold. I lobed rolling down hills, head over heels, over and over again. The speed and disorientation were so life giving. Giggles and breathless hysterical laughter was always part of this. Now, I don't roll as well and roller coasters aren't nearly as much fun. They bounce and bruise and don't give that thrill anymore.


peter is one of us - he wants to know the limit of forgiveness. He must have a sibling or friend that drove him up the wall, using all his belongings and taking no responsibility. Forgiven over and over again, and yet this brother was unrepentant and obnoxious. And Jesus tells him there is no limit, we are to forgive over and over again.

I am reminded today how inflexible we can become when as we get older, and how much we need to do to remain flexible and able to forgive -over and over again. I pray that God will give me an extra measure of forgiveness and flexibility, so that I can actively forgive, no how matter how often I am called upon. May we all stretch and grow as we forgive each other, for God's love sake, over and over again.