Our gospel for this morning is perhaps the central focus of the Christian message - forgiveness. It seems to me, that if we can learn the lesson of forgiveness, then we have mastered the message of Christ. Indeed Christ himself is the message of forgiveness, offering in his own body the opportunity to reconcile ourselves with God.

In the start of our gospel, Peter begins to show Jesus that he is catching on. When a person wrongs me, how many times must I forgive? Seven times is this enough forgiveness, before I can turn to anger. No says Jesus, not seven times but seventy-seven times.

Does this mean that on the seventy-eighth instance we have permission to get angry? No, Jesus is not talking about a number but rather something that is ridiculously high to keep track of. Forgiveness for the Christian is to be the way of life.

Jesus then goes on to explain, that our forgiveness of others is not something that comes within our selves, but comes from the overwhelming experience of the forgiveness of God.

Jesus parable is the illustration of it. Our forgiveness of others is to come after our understanding that we are in the position of having been forgiven the impossible debt we have to God. The debt that cost the life of his own Son. Perhaps that is worth contemplating the enormity of the price that he paid.

Our forgiveness of others then is our sign that we recognise this great gift from God. So why then is it that the church, which should be the source and example of forgiveness seems so often to get it wrong. Why is the church in general so seemingly full of unforgiving people.

I think the clergy and the leadership are to blame. I am conscious that in twelve months, I have not raised this issue of forgiveness. I don't recall many sermons on the subject. It is difficult to preach forgiveness, because it means it must be practiced. And in our neglect, the emphasis has then been taken out of the church and so it is possible to come week in, week out without the reminder that our forgiveness by God is in fact conditional. We must forgive others in order to know the forgiveness of God.

Indeed if you think about it, each week we say words - forgive us our sins as we forgive the sins of others. But the familiarity is the enemy - we loose the impact and so we forget to forgive.

Perhaps this is the situation with you. Have you something that has hurt you deeply? Is there someone who has wronged you in word or action or inaction? I don't think it is possible to live without having this happen. Indeed the sense of the gospel implies that we will almost certainly experience hurt from others. Invariably we have a choice. No matter how deep the wounds, we may choose to hang on to them or to let go. We may choose to hold the other responsible, or we may choose to forgive. Traditionally, we see that the offer of forgiveness is the gift from us to the other, but to today's reading tells us more. Our offer of forgiveness is our opportunity to receive that from God. I like to think of it in these terms - The clenched fist of anger, can not receive the gift - only the open hand of acceptance.

There is one more point. Perhaps we are not forgiving ourselves. Are there things that you believe that you have done, that have ruined your life? Sins perhaps that seem unforgivable? Forgiveness is not just for others, but must begin with ourselves. We can hurt ourselves, as we discover that we are not quite the person we think that we are. When we see ourselves through God's eyes. These inner secrets can also bring us down.

This whole process is personal. And perhaps this where we ought to leave it. As the transaction between you and I and our God.

Are you ready for this? Let us spend a few moments and ask the Holy Spirit to prompt us in the things that we are holding onto that will prevent us from receiving the forgiveness. Let me assure you that there is nothing that cannot be forgiven… In the silence then, let us ask God to prompt us and then as we come to the confession. Before the absolution let us take the opportunity to lay these issues before God and ask him to give us the power to forgive the wrongdoing of other and to open the door to closer fellowship with him.

Let us then spend some time in the presence of God.

AMEN.