"Struggling to Forgive?" - Rev. John Gorin

Peter asked Jesus how many times he must forgive, and offered a generous answer: seven. Jesus' reply, "seventy-seven times," moves forgiveness beyond anything we can count. In this sermon from Holy Trinity Silicon Valley, the Rev. John Gorin looks at the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:21–35). He calls it both comforting and disturbing. It is comforting because it shows the scale of God's mercy toward us. It is disturbing because it makes clear that forgiving others is not optional. In this episode: Why we have a God-given "justice reflex," and why staying there blocks our path like a mudslide on Highway 1 through Big Sur How unresolved offenses spread through workplaces, families, and churches, including a medieval dispute over communion bread during the East–West split The unpayable debt: what the king's mercy cost, and what Christ's mercy cost The link between receiving God's forgiveness and extending it (Matthew 6:14–15) A practical step: naming the offense and declaring forgiveness in the name of Jesus, even before our emotions catch up Insights from Lewis Smedes' The Art of Forgiving on relapses, lingering anger, and patience with the healing process Why "mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13) Scripture: Matthew 18:21–35; Matthew 6:9–15; James 2:13 Resource mentioned: Lewis B. Smedes, The Art of Forgiving: When You Need to Forgive and Don't Know How About Holy Trinity Silicon Valley Holy Trinity Silicon Valley is an Anglican church in Palo Alto, California, part of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) and the Diocese of Christ Our Hope (C4SO). We are a liturgical, sacramental community rooted in ancient tradition and engaged with the life of Silicon Valley. Learn more and join us on Sunday at https://www.holytrinitysv.org.