Forgiveness as gift

They have tried to kill us in their sin
They have hurt us, defamed us, put nails in our car wheels, fought with us.
In their sin they have cried out in the only way they know—sinfully.

We have fought their sin
Yet as forgiveness is given realization comes.
Their sin kills us—achieves this goal.
Yet in Christ that death,
Which we suffer in our call to serve and to pronounce forgiveness
To those killing us along with themselves,
Is life.

Dying to sin, Christ gives us his forgiveness
Gives us life as we live death and suffering.

Suddenly to look out upon the church
To speak, to give the absolution,
Is that moment of death in me—the pastor—of sin, my sin
Erasing my knowledge of their sin and the reality of my own.

As I pronounce in Christ’s name the absolution
Their attempts to put the words I am called to proclaim
To death are defeated
And the gift of forgiveness brings new life through Christ.

While I remember the fear, the pain, the death that they,
The people who God sent me to serve and love and forgive in his name,
Have given to me…

Through Christ’s forgiveness
I can continue
And they will continue
To try to kill me as they reject the forgiveness
That is already theirs

And Christ will continue to lift me up
When I am beaten down and bring me life in him
And in him alone
So that I can continue to give the absolution in the name of Christ.

The gift of forgiveness.