ZACHARY'S NOTES: 

Stanza 1 // This hymn begins with a quotation from the Lord’s Prayer - and is itself a prayer! “Forgive our sins as we forgive” is a portion of the fifth petition. In the context of this weekend’s Gospel reading, it is also an honest assessment of our situation! Christ’s instruction to forgive to an outlandish extent - whether “seventy-seven times” or “seventy times seven” means even as we seek to forgive others, we need God’s forgiveness daily! Only in God’s grace - his constant forgiveness - can we begin to live these words.

Stanza 2 // The second stanza confronts us with the reality of those who “brood on wrongs and will not let old bitterness depart.” God’s pardon cannot reach those who 

Stanza 3 // The “blazing light” of the cross reveals the mercy Christ has given to us, who owed a debt we could never repay! It also the many questions that arise from this parable. We forgive those who sin against us as many times as necessary - not out of fear of “torture” or eternal damnation, but because we recognize the difficulties we have with a brother or sister in the Church are “trifling.” If God has said he forgives all, who are we to withhold this gift from another? 

Stanza 4 // It is the “Lord” who will “cleanse our souls,” drive away all “resentment,” and show “mercy” to all that God’s peace might be known in the world. This is the Church’s prayer - that God’s mercy might lead all people in the Church and the world to know the peace of Christ.

SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 605 -  Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive - ᴅᴇᴛʀᴏɪᴛ
• ELW 587/588 - There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy - ꜱᴛ. ʜᴇʟᴇɴᴀ // ʟᴏʀᴅ, ʀᴇᴠɪᴠᴇ ᴜꜱ
• ELW 604 - O Christ, Our Hope - ʟᴏʙᴛ ɢᴏᴛᴛ, ɪʜʀ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴇɴ
• ELW 871 - Sing Praise to God, the Highest Good - ʟᴏʙᴛ ɢᴏᴛᴛ ᴅᴇɴ ʜᴇʀʀᴇɴ, ɪʜʀ