Repentance, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation

26Mar
For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt,
  I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me.
 Is there no balm in Gilead?
  Is there no physician there?
Why then has the health of my poor people
  not been restored?

-Jeremiah 8:21,22


The prophet Jeremiah was trying to get the attention of God’s people. In order to do so he wrote and publicly portrayed all manner of calamities that befall us if we sink into idolatry….the most dire of which was to be captured by the Babylonians and driven out of our own land.  This particular illustration came true for the Israelites.


Even when we try, we humans fail, both as individuals and in communities of faith, to embody and reflect God’s love for all. The practice of accepting this and confessing it, is our opportunity to restore ourselves to God. But we can’t do it alone. Our actions require God’s mercy and forgiveness, as well as a good community of support. Fortunately for us, God will choose mercy every time. 


The story of the Babylonian exile reminds us when we have exiled ourselves from the message of love and faithfulness to God. We sometimes worship at the unforgiving altars of blame and punishment. Our illness is forgetting that love heals, forgiveness calms, and mercy restores us. 


Tonight at 5:30 in the Trinity Chapel, you are invited to worship and listen to ways in which the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights works with young people in our community through practices of repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation. Aren’t we all in need of that balm?


Musical Reflection - 'There is a balm in Gilead' - Adventist Vocal Ensemble

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the

truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God, who is

faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all

unrighteousness.  -1 John 1:8,9


Most merciful God,

we confess that we have sinned against you

in thought, word, and deed,

by what we have done,

and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart;

we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,

have mercy on us and forgive us;

that we may delight in your will,

and walk in your ways,

to the glory of your Name. Amen.

ForgivenessLentReconciliation

Posted by Maria Elliott

Maria Elliott has been Trinity since 1994, first as a parishioner and then for sixteen years establishing the office of stewardship and development, and currently as the Director of Pastoral Care and Spiritual Life. 

WIth a degree in Music and Business from Drake University in her native state of Iowa, Maria went first to New York to work for a concert artist management and then for the Arts department at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.  At the Cathedral, Maria was confirmed, met and married her husband, The Reverend Michael Kuhn, and began an accidental career in the Episcopal Church. She has served on the Diocesan Stewardship Committee, the boards of The Episcopal Network for Stewardship and the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes, as a Stephen Minister, and currently Education for Ministry Mentor.

Maria’s interests include playing the oboe in the New Orleans Civic Symphony and she is currently training to be a Narrative Enneagram mentor. Her daughters, Hallie Wilkins and Sophie Bedaña are Trinity School alumni. Maria has two grandchildren, Celeste and Alden Wilkins.

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