Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. She who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, Will return with songs of joy carrying sheaves with her. (Ps. 126:4-6) Look at this: first of all the passage starts in prayer. And it’s not a little prayer to restore their fortunes: It’s “like streams in the Negev.” The Negev is an arid desert and the streams are miracles of life-giving. The streams and river transform the desert landscape into carpets of flowers in the springtime and life-giving irrigation and drinking water year round. Note too that the person…

Mt. 14:22-32 22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.  25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus…

It is not in our human nature to forgive. We are attacked, we defend ourselves; someone treats us unjustly and we want justice done to them; someone is mean to us and we want to hit back. Even as the event recedes into the past we keep it alive with fantasies of revenge. Yet Jesus was clear – extremely clear – that we need to forgive! And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. (Mark 11:25)   Forgiving Others God has told us in no uncertain terms to forgive. It is true that God…