Be Reconciled
Eternal God...look with favor...upon this man and this woman whom you make one flesh in Holy Matrimony.
Give them grace, when they hurt each other, to recognize and acknowledge their fault, and to seek each other's forgiveness and yours. Amen.
Make their life together a sign of Christ's love to this sinful and broken world, that unity may overcome estrangement, forgiveness heal guilt, and joy conquer despair. Amen.The Book of Common Prayer; Prayers for the newly married, p. 429
When somebody you've wronged forgives you, you're spared the dull and self-diminishing throb of a guilty conscience. When you forgive somebody who has wronged you, you're spared the dismal corrosion of bitterness and wounded pride. For both parties, forgiveness means the freedom again to be at peace inside one's own skin and to be glad in each other's presence.
Frederick Buechner quoted in The NewsletterNewsletter, Feb. 1995
As I write this it is with the readings of the Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year C, on my mind. St. Paul is speaking of being reconciled to God and exercising a ministry of reconciliation as an ambassador of Christ. The Psalmist speaks from experience: "Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not conceal my guilt. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.' Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin....Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the LORD; shout for joy, all who are true of heart." (Psalm 32) The parable of the Prodigal Son (or Prodigal Father) told by Jesus continues to enthrall his hearers.
Seek forgiveness, be reconciled is the "word" that I hear in my heart. I share it with you.
Having made a promise to one another "from this day forward...for better, for worse..." places us in a proximity that allows us to annoy each other, hurt each other and even harm each other (physically, emotionally, spiritually) even when we don't mean to do that.
Marriage can only survive, love can only grow, if a ministry of reconciliation is also born on the wedding day--perhaps that is why we pray as we do for the newly married couple. Indeed, our "sinful and broken world" desperately needs your witness to God's grace empowering you to seek and give forgiveness. Our world desperately needs your witness to the love of Christ so "that unity may overcome estrangement, forgiveness heal guilt, and joy conquer despair."
Being married is an important and grace filled ministry. Forgiving and being reconciled, are powerful moments of mystery within your marriage. They can become moments of blessing for you and others.
May you find God's grace more powerful and transforming than you can ask or imagine. May you find compassion, forgiveness, and reconciliation in each other when you do hurt each other. May you find in Jesus Christ, inspiration and a way to forgiveness. For he has taught us the power of love to forgive, and in the forgiving revealed a power to open up even greater possibilities of love and life.
May your love continue to grow and be a blessing to you and to those whose lives you touch.
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Index of Meditations Previously Offered
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St. Margaret's Episcopal
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