Forgiveness
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series V, Cycle A
BRIEF COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Exodus 14:19--31 (C)
The presence of the Lord in the pillar of fire, that normally went ahead of the people to lead them, moved to the rear of the community as an obscuring cloud, a kind of buffer between them and the army of the Pharaoh. The Lord caused a strong wind to dry up a pathway through the sea so that the Hebrews passed to the other side. The pursuing Egyptians became mired in the mud and the waters closed in upon them. Thus, the Lord delivered his people from their enemies.
Lesson 1: Sirach 27:30-28:7 (RC, E)
A warning against harboring wrath. A person must forgive others the wrong that they have done if she expects to have her own sins pardoned.
Lesson 1: Genesis 50:15--21 (L)
Joseph's brothers seek and receive his forgiveness. Joseph refuses to play God by judging his brothers, seeing how the Lord used their evil for the good of many.
Lesson 2: Romans 14:1--12 (C); Romans 14:7--9 (RC); Romans 14:5--12 (E); Romans 14:5--9 (L)
A warning against senseless disputes and judging one's neighbor. Divisions were forming in the church about fasting and other such matters. A believer must show tolerance and respect for fellow believers who hold different views. Each person must answer to God, and God alone, for the conduct of her life. Our lives are not our own; whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
Gospel: Matthew 18:21--35 (C, RC, E, L)
Once again, Peter is the spokesman for the disciples, asking if a person should forgive another as many as seven times. Jesus replies: ''Not seven, but seventy times seven.'' There is no limit, no equation when it comes to forgiveness. This becomes a springboard for the parable of the Unforgiving Servant. A servant asked his lord to forgive him his astronomical debt of 10,000 talents (the talent was equivalent to wages for 15 years)) and was granted his petition. Shortly thereafter, this same servant saw a man who owed him about 100 denarii (the denarius was one day's wage). He seized him by the throat and demanded payment. The debtor begged for time to pay his debt but this heartless man refused. Fellow servants observed this and reported to their master. The master called in the unforgiving servant and, after chastising him, threw him into debtor's prison. The point? We cannot receive God's forgiveness until we share this forgiveness with others.
288
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 114 (C) - ''Why is it, O sea, that you flee?'' (v. 5).
Psalm 103:1--13 (RC, E, L) - ''The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love'' (v. 8).
Prayer Of The Day
God of mercy, when we contemplate the scope of your forgiving grace, our hearts overflow in thanksgiving. To show our gratitude, help us to share with others what we have so freely and undeservedly received from you. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Exodus 14:19--31
Protecting the rear flank. The angel of the Lord led the Israelites by being a pillar of fire in front of them and, as they approached the Reed Sea, the angel of God retreated to the rear flank to provide protection from the Egyptian army approaching from the rear. When we have no place to flee from danger, the Lord is there to shield us from danger and deliver us from our enemies that are close behind.
Lesson 1: Genesis 50:15--21
Past in pursuit. Joseph's brothers feared that their past might catch up with them after their father died, that Joseph would try to get even with them. So they sent word to Joseph that their father commanded that he forgive them for their sins. They still did not realize the extent of Joseph's forgiving spirit, perhaps because they knew what they would do if the tables were turned. Our sins may be forgiven us, but that doesn't mean that our past will stop pursuing us or that events we have set in motion might not one day overtake us. In this life, God may blot out our sins but even he cannot blot out our past.
Slaves of sin. It is interesting to observe how the brothers of Joseph referred to themselves, when they begged for forgiveness: ''... the servants of the God of your Father ...'' (v 17). They did not claim the privilege of being his brothers but merely servants or slaves. They were offering themselves to Joseph as his slaves in exchange for their lives. Sin makes slaves of sons and daughters but through Christ we are welcomed back into the family.
Lesson 2: Romans 14:1--12
Passing judgment: Paul warns against passing judgment on another person, since that is God's province (v. 4). Rather we should pass up giving judgment on those who are different than we. Each person is entitled to his opinion.
Motion sustained. A person of integrity, whose actions flow from a sincere love of the Lord, will be sustained at the judgment seat of Christ, even if he makes mistakes. God will make him stand by his grace (v. 4b).
Connections. On the learning channel, there are two programs called Connections and Connection 2, which endeavor to show how various thoughts, inventions and technologies lead from one thing to another. Nothing happens in a vacuum. Our lives are not unconnected atoms. We are a part of a community of love and grace. ''None of us lives to himself and none of us dies to himself'' (v. 7).
Unbroken connection. Paul states something great and wonderful. ''Whether we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's'' (v. 8). Our connection with the Lord can be broken by no outside force, only by ourselves. Nothing in this world can disconnect us from the love of God. What a promise!
Cross connection. In verse nine, Paul states that it is through the death and resurrection of Christ that we have this eternal connection as God's dear child. Because of sin, we are slaves, but by his grace we are brought back into the fold of faith. This connection does not come through creation but through Christ.
289
Gospel: Matthew 18:21--35
Love without limits. Peter's attempt to try to quantify or limit forgiveness showed that he hadn't yet comprehended the true nature of God's grace and forgiveness. God's forgiveness is not predicated on the quantity of our sins, as humans so often assume. We think: Well, I'm not as bad a sinner as that scoundrel, surely God will recognize my comparative goodness. The bean counting mindset shows that we are still living under law, not grace. Love is without limits.
Mercy me. The debtor of Jesus' parable begged for mercy as he and his family were about to be thrown into debtor's prison. He ought to be the object of mercy but when he came upon his fellow debtor who owed him a little money, he was unwilling to be the subject of mercy. If I ask God to mercy me, I must also be willing to mercy thee.
Getting more than we bargained for. The servant did not request that his debt be canceled but that his master would be patient and give him more time to pay it back. He got far more than he asked for: the cancellation of the entire debt. God gives us far more than we deserve; he gives us forgiveness.
There's no comparison. The unforgiving servant was forgiven an astronomical sum. If a talent equalled the wages of a laborer for 15 years, a debt of 10,000 talents equals the laborer's wages for 150,000 years, with no days off. The debt that was owed him was equal to the laborer's wage for 100 days, about 1/500,000th of the size of his own debt. The debt that others owe to us is minuscule compared to what God has forgiven us.
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Exodus 14:19--31
Sermon Title: Baptism - A Life And Death Matter
Sermon Angle: In his epistle to the Romans, Paul refers to the passage of the Israelites through the Red Sea as a type of baptism, which imparts life through death. In this baptism, there was the death of the Egyptians. For the Israelites it was also a death, the death of the old life of slavery. This death was necessary so that God could raise them to newness of life. In Christian baptism, the believer also dies to his old life of sin, so that he might be raised to newness of life in Christ.
Lesson 1: Genesis 50:15--21
Sermon Title: Seeing Life Through The Rearview Mirror
Sermon Angle: When Joseph's father died, the brothers feared that Joseph would seek retribution. Joseph responded that only God could judge. ''You meant it for evil,'' he said, ''but God used it for good.'' It's quite likely that when his brothers first sold him into slavery, he was possessed by the impulse for revenge. At first, it's quite unlikely that he viewed God's design. However, as Joseph learned to place his life in God's hands, he could see how God was active in his life. Faith is not only the ability to envision what life can become, when we trust God; it is also a kind of rearview mirror which enables us to perceive how God's hand was active in leading us to the present moment. When we believe that God's Spirit has been working to accomplish a greater good through all the circumstances of life, then bitterness and resentment drop away. With that kind of faith, a person can steer confidently into the future.
Lesson 2: Romans 14:1--12
Sermon Title: An Affair Of The Heart
Sermon Angle: The church of Paul's day was already beset by contention stemming from disparate spiritual practices. Some held certain days to be holy; others did not. Some abstained from certain foods to honor God; others did not. The apostle does not take sides. He seems to suggest that there are many ways to serve and worship the Lord. He counsels to be convinced in your own mind (v. 5). That what you're doing is right for you, without judging the neighbor
290
who approaches God differently. In theology he is quite--focused, but in practice he is very broad. The assumption underlying Paul's advice is that our relationship with Christ is not a matter of externals; it is an affair of the heart.
Outline:
1. The church is often preoccupied with externals
- in Paul's day, they were issues like fasting and holy days
- in our day, there are things like decor and so forth
2. Christianity is not a matter of externals but an affair of the heart
(Everything we do should express our love for God and one another)
Sermon Title: Passing Judgment
Sermon Angle: Both the Lutheran First Lesson and this text are centered on passing judgment. Joseph realized that he had no right to pass judgment on his brothers. Paul asks the question: ''Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister?'' This sermon could address that question coupled with a warning of dangers of passing judgment on others. If we are to pass God's judgment, we must refrain from passing judgment on others.
Outline:
1. Why do we judge others?
- it makes us feel superior
- it keeps us from facing our own sins
2. Why should we not pass judgment on others?
- we are not God and don't see the big picture
- we cannot see inside another person's heart
- God has forgiven us, we must forgive others
- we are individually accountable to God (vv. 11--12)
Sermon Title: Endless Love
Sermon Angle: Paul holds up a great truth when he says that whether we live or die, we are the Lord's (vv. 7--8). God's love for us is endless; he will never let go of those whom he claims as his own. That longing for everlasting love is frequently expressed in love ballads, but can only be realized in Christ (v. 9).
Outline:
1. We all have a need to belong and to be loved
- without loving relationship, life unravels
2. The Bible says that we belong to God
- Christ claims us as his own through his death and resurrection (v. 9).
3. Death cannot separate us from God's love
4. We must live for the Lord
Gospel: Matthew 18:21--35
Sermon Title: Three Strikes And You're Not Out
Sermon Angle: In baseball, it's three strikes and you're out. In President Clinton's crime bill, there is a three strikes and you're out provision for habitual serious offenders. Supposedly, they are out of circulation for life. That was the same notion in Old Testament times; you give a person three chances but not four. Peter is being generous when he asks Jesus if seven times is the limit of forgiveness. Jesus' response indicates that there is no limit to divine forgiveness. If a brother or sister seeks forgiveness, we are obligated to grant it.
Outline:
1. We confuse the realms of law and grace
- the world lives by law (three strikes and you're out)
- God relates to us also through grace (the 70x7 principle)
2. In personal relationships, Christian forgiveness knows no limits
291
3. As we have been forgiven an infinite debt, so must we forgive without limit
4. The church must model the realm of grace for the world
Sermon Title: Love Does Not Keep Track
Sermon Angle: Jesus' 70 times 7 response to Peter's question about forgiveness makes clear that God's love and forgiveness is infinite. Keeping track of offenses is the province of the law but in God's realm of love and grace, there is no keeping track, no accounting, for those who by faith accept his grace.
Outline:
1. In the world, people calculate, measure and record wrong doing.
2. Since we have been accepted and forgiven, we do not keep track of wrongs
3. God's love is not an equation but a relationship
A man had more than a little bit too much to drink at an office Christmas party, where his wife was also present. He made a complete fool of himself and embarrassed his wife to tears. The next day, he was not only extremely hung over but deeply remorseful. He apologized profusely to his wife, asking her to forgive him and forget that it ever happened. She did promise that the whole matter would be forgiven and forgotten. However, several times in the next few months, she referred to his hour of shame. Finally, he could take it no longer. ''I thought you promised to forgive and forget!'' he charged. She replied: ''I have forgiven and forgotten but I just don't want you to forget that I have forgiven and forgotten.''
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale related this story years ago in Guideposts magazine. It was about a well loved shopkeeper in the Bronx of New York by the name of Milton Cohan. One night the gentle man was killed by hoodlums who made off with $6.50. His son found the body and became obsessed with the notion of finding and killing his father's murderers. He got appointed to the New York Police Department and night after night he roamed the streets of the Bronx, driven by a blinding hatred. His wife wept as she saw the light of life extinguished in the man she loved.
One night he caught one of the men he had vowed to kill. He pointed the gun at the man's head but his finger was paralyzed. He could hear the gentle voice of his father speaking in his heart. With his baton, he knocked the knife from the man's hand, cuffed him and brought him into the station for booking. Afterward, he went home to his wife.
''I had that guy,'' he recounted to her, ''but I couldn't shoot.'' Then he paused before speaking again, ''Father's hand was on the gun, and you know, honey, I feel free and happy again.''
''You are now worthy to be your Father's son,'' she said haltingly. ''You have been set free.''
Clara Barton, the founder of the Red Cross, was reminded one day by a friend of an especially cruel remark that someone made to her years before. When Clara didn't seem to respond, the friend queried, ''But don't you remember?'' Barton replied: ''No, I distinctly remember forgetting it.''
292
Lesson 1: Exodus 14:19--31 (C)
The presence of the Lord in the pillar of fire, that normally went ahead of the people to lead them, moved to the rear of the community as an obscuring cloud, a kind of buffer between them and the army of the Pharaoh. The Lord caused a strong wind to dry up a pathway through the sea so that the Hebrews passed to the other side. The pursuing Egyptians became mired in the mud and the waters closed in upon them. Thus, the Lord delivered his people from their enemies.
Lesson 1: Sirach 27:30-28:7 (RC, E)
A warning against harboring wrath. A person must forgive others the wrong that they have done if she expects to have her own sins pardoned.
Lesson 1: Genesis 50:15--21 (L)
Joseph's brothers seek and receive his forgiveness. Joseph refuses to play God by judging his brothers, seeing how the Lord used their evil for the good of many.
Lesson 2: Romans 14:1--12 (C); Romans 14:7--9 (RC); Romans 14:5--12 (E); Romans 14:5--9 (L)
A warning against senseless disputes and judging one's neighbor. Divisions were forming in the church about fasting and other such matters. A believer must show tolerance and respect for fellow believers who hold different views. Each person must answer to God, and God alone, for the conduct of her life. Our lives are not our own; whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
Gospel: Matthew 18:21--35 (C, RC, E, L)
Once again, Peter is the spokesman for the disciples, asking if a person should forgive another as many as seven times. Jesus replies: ''Not seven, but seventy times seven.'' There is no limit, no equation when it comes to forgiveness. This becomes a springboard for the parable of the Unforgiving Servant. A servant asked his lord to forgive him his astronomical debt of 10,000 talents (the talent was equivalent to wages for 15 years)) and was granted his petition. Shortly thereafter, this same servant saw a man who owed him about 100 denarii (the denarius was one day's wage). He seized him by the throat and demanded payment. The debtor begged for time to pay his debt but this heartless man refused. Fellow servants observed this and reported to their master. The master called in the unforgiving servant and, after chastising him, threw him into debtor's prison. The point? We cannot receive God's forgiveness until we share this forgiveness with others.
288
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 114 (C) - ''Why is it, O sea, that you flee?'' (v. 5).
Psalm 103:1--13 (RC, E, L) - ''The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love'' (v. 8).
Prayer Of The Day
God of mercy, when we contemplate the scope of your forgiving grace, our hearts overflow in thanksgiving. To show our gratitude, help us to share with others what we have so freely and undeservedly received from you. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Exodus 14:19--31
Protecting the rear flank. The angel of the Lord led the Israelites by being a pillar of fire in front of them and, as they approached the Reed Sea, the angel of God retreated to the rear flank to provide protection from the Egyptian army approaching from the rear. When we have no place to flee from danger, the Lord is there to shield us from danger and deliver us from our enemies that are close behind.
Lesson 1: Genesis 50:15--21
Past in pursuit. Joseph's brothers feared that their past might catch up with them after their father died, that Joseph would try to get even with them. So they sent word to Joseph that their father commanded that he forgive them for their sins. They still did not realize the extent of Joseph's forgiving spirit, perhaps because they knew what they would do if the tables were turned. Our sins may be forgiven us, but that doesn't mean that our past will stop pursuing us or that events we have set in motion might not one day overtake us. In this life, God may blot out our sins but even he cannot blot out our past.
Slaves of sin. It is interesting to observe how the brothers of Joseph referred to themselves, when they begged for forgiveness: ''... the servants of the God of your Father ...'' (v 17). They did not claim the privilege of being his brothers but merely servants or slaves. They were offering themselves to Joseph as his slaves in exchange for their lives. Sin makes slaves of sons and daughters but through Christ we are welcomed back into the family.
Lesson 2: Romans 14:1--12
Passing judgment: Paul warns against passing judgment on another person, since that is God's province (v. 4). Rather we should pass up giving judgment on those who are different than we. Each person is entitled to his opinion.
Motion sustained. A person of integrity, whose actions flow from a sincere love of the Lord, will be sustained at the judgment seat of Christ, even if he makes mistakes. God will make him stand by his grace (v. 4b).
Connections. On the learning channel, there are two programs called Connections and Connection 2, which endeavor to show how various thoughts, inventions and technologies lead from one thing to another. Nothing happens in a vacuum. Our lives are not unconnected atoms. We are a part of a community of love and grace. ''None of us lives to himself and none of us dies to himself'' (v. 7).
Unbroken connection. Paul states something great and wonderful. ''Whether we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's'' (v. 8). Our connection with the Lord can be broken by no outside force, only by ourselves. Nothing in this world can disconnect us from the love of God. What a promise!
Cross connection. In verse nine, Paul states that it is through the death and resurrection of Christ that we have this eternal connection as God's dear child. Because of sin, we are slaves, but by his grace we are brought back into the fold of faith. This connection does not come through creation but through Christ.
289
Gospel: Matthew 18:21--35
Love without limits. Peter's attempt to try to quantify or limit forgiveness showed that he hadn't yet comprehended the true nature of God's grace and forgiveness. God's forgiveness is not predicated on the quantity of our sins, as humans so often assume. We think: Well, I'm not as bad a sinner as that scoundrel, surely God will recognize my comparative goodness. The bean counting mindset shows that we are still living under law, not grace. Love is without limits.
Mercy me. The debtor of Jesus' parable begged for mercy as he and his family were about to be thrown into debtor's prison. He ought to be the object of mercy but when he came upon his fellow debtor who owed him a little money, he was unwilling to be the subject of mercy. If I ask God to mercy me, I must also be willing to mercy thee.
Getting more than we bargained for. The servant did not request that his debt be canceled but that his master would be patient and give him more time to pay it back. He got far more than he asked for: the cancellation of the entire debt. God gives us far more than we deserve; he gives us forgiveness.
There's no comparison. The unforgiving servant was forgiven an astronomical sum. If a talent equalled the wages of a laborer for 15 years, a debt of 10,000 talents equals the laborer's wages for 150,000 years, with no days off. The debt that was owed him was equal to the laborer's wage for 100 days, about 1/500,000th of the size of his own debt. The debt that others owe to us is minuscule compared to what God has forgiven us.
PREACHING APPROACHES WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
Lesson 1: Exodus 14:19--31
Sermon Title: Baptism - A Life And Death Matter
Sermon Angle: In his epistle to the Romans, Paul refers to the passage of the Israelites through the Red Sea as a type of baptism, which imparts life through death. In this baptism, there was the death of the Egyptians. For the Israelites it was also a death, the death of the old life of slavery. This death was necessary so that God could raise them to newness of life. In Christian baptism, the believer also dies to his old life of sin, so that he might be raised to newness of life in Christ.
Lesson 1: Genesis 50:15--21
Sermon Title: Seeing Life Through The Rearview Mirror
Sermon Angle: When Joseph's father died, the brothers feared that Joseph would seek retribution. Joseph responded that only God could judge. ''You meant it for evil,'' he said, ''but God used it for good.'' It's quite likely that when his brothers first sold him into slavery, he was possessed by the impulse for revenge. At first, it's quite unlikely that he viewed God's design. However, as Joseph learned to place his life in God's hands, he could see how God was active in his life. Faith is not only the ability to envision what life can become, when we trust God; it is also a kind of rearview mirror which enables us to perceive how God's hand was active in leading us to the present moment. When we believe that God's Spirit has been working to accomplish a greater good through all the circumstances of life, then bitterness and resentment drop away. With that kind of faith, a person can steer confidently into the future.
Lesson 2: Romans 14:1--12
Sermon Title: An Affair Of The Heart
Sermon Angle: The church of Paul's day was already beset by contention stemming from disparate spiritual practices. Some held certain days to be holy; others did not. Some abstained from certain foods to honor God; others did not. The apostle does not take sides. He seems to suggest that there are many ways to serve and worship the Lord. He counsels to be convinced in your own mind (v. 5). That what you're doing is right for you, without judging the neighbor
290
who approaches God differently. In theology he is quite--focused, but in practice he is very broad. The assumption underlying Paul's advice is that our relationship with Christ is not a matter of externals; it is an affair of the heart.
Outline:
1. The church is often preoccupied with externals
- in Paul's day, they were issues like fasting and holy days
- in our day, there are things like decor and so forth
2. Christianity is not a matter of externals but an affair of the heart
(Everything we do should express our love for God and one another)
Sermon Title: Passing Judgment
Sermon Angle: Both the Lutheran First Lesson and this text are centered on passing judgment. Joseph realized that he had no right to pass judgment on his brothers. Paul asks the question: ''Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister?'' This sermon could address that question coupled with a warning of dangers of passing judgment on others. If we are to pass God's judgment, we must refrain from passing judgment on others.
Outline:
1. Why do we judge others?
- it makes us feel superior
- it keeps us from facing our own sins
2. Why should we not pass judgment on others?
- we are not God and don't see the big picture
- we cannot see inside another person's heart
- God has forgiven us, we must forgive others
- we are individually accountable to God (vv. 11--12)
Sermon Title: Endless Love
Sermon Angle: Paul holds up a great truth when he says that whether we live or die, we are the Lord's (vv. 7--8). God's love for us is endless; he will never let go of those whom he claims as his own. That longing for everlasting love is frequently expressed in love ballads, but can only be realized in Christ (v. 9).
Outline:
1. We all have a need to belong and to be loved
- without loving relationship, life unravels
2. The Bible says that we belong to God
- Christ claims us as his own through his death and resurrection (v. 9).
3. Death cannot separate us from God's love
4. We must live for the Lord
Gospel: Matthew 18:21--35
Sermon Title: Three Strikes And You're Not Out
Sermon Angle: In baseball, it's three strikes and you're out. In President Clinton's crime bill, there is a three strikes and you're out provision for habitual serious offenders. Supposedly, they are out of circulation for life. That was the same notion in Old Testament times; you give a person three chances but not four. Peter is being generous when he asks Jesus if seven times is the limit of forgiveness. Jesus' response indicates that there is no limit to divine forgiveness. If a brother or sister seeks forgiveness, we are obligated to grant it.
Outline:
1. We confuse the realms of law and grace
- the world lives by law (three strikes and you're out)
- God relates to us also through grace (the 70x7 principle)
2. In personal relationships, Christian forgiveness knows no limits
291
3. As we have been forgiven an infinite debt, so must we forgive without limit
4. The church must model the realm of grace for the world
Sermon Title: Love Does Not Keep Track
Sermon Angle: Jesus' 70 times 7 response to Peter's question about forgiveness makes clear that God's love and forgiveness is infinite. Keeping track of offenses is the province of the law but in God's realm of love and grace, there is no keeping track, no accounting, for those who by faith accept his grace.
Outline:
1. In the world, people calculate, measure and record wrong doing.
2. Since we have been accepted and forgiven, we do not keep track of wrongs
3. God's love is not an equation but a relationship
A man had more than a little bit too much to drink at an office Christmas party, where his wife was also present. He made a complete fool of himself and embarrassed his wife to tears. The next day, he was not only extremely hung over but deeply remorseful. He apologized profusely to his wife, asking her to forgive him and forget that it ever happened. She did promise that the whole matter would be forgiven and forgotten. However, several times in the next few months, she referred to his hour of shame. Finally, he could take it no longer. ''I thought you promised to forgive and forget!'' he charged. She replied: ''I have forgiven and forgotten but I just don't want you to forget that I have forgiven and forgotten.''
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale related this story years ago in Guideposts magazine. It was about a well loved shopkeeper in the Bronx of New York by the name of Milton Cohan. One night the gentle man was killed by hoodlums who made off with $6.50. His son found the body and became obsessed with the notion of finding and killing his father's murderers. He got appointed to the New York Police Department and night after night he roamed the streets of the Bronx, driven by a blinding hatred. His wife wept as she saw the light of life extinguished in the man she loved.
One night he caught one of the men he had vowed to kill. He pointed the gun at the man's head but his finger was paralyzed. He could hear the gentle voice of his father speaking in his heart. With his baton, he knocked the knife from the man's hand, cuffed him and brought him into the station for booking. Afterward, he went home to his wife.
''I had that guy,'' he recounted to her, ''but I couldn't shoot.'' Then he paused before speaking again, ''Father's hand was on the gun, and you know, honey, I feel free and happy again.''
''You are now worthy to be your Father's son,'' she said haltingly. ''You have been set free.''
Clara Barton, the founder of the Red Cross, was reminded one day by a friend of an especially cruel remark that someone made to her years before. When Clara didn't seem to respond, the friend queried, ''But don't you remember?'' Barton replied: ''No, I distinctly remember forgetting it.''
292
