Forgiveness Amidst Mourning

I’m reminded of the story of Jesus calling a man to follow him and the man said, let me first burry my father who has died, and Jesus said to let the dead burry the dead. This never really has made that much sense to me and frankly seemed kind of cld of Jesus. I’ve heard various interpretations of it being a common excuse or brushing off the detail by saying it’s Jesus just talking about not hesitating to be a follower. This whole situation has given it new meaning to me, however. I don’t know if this is the original meaning, probably not, but this is what it means to me. I want to wait to consider offering forgiveness to that man until we all have mourned and gotten some sense of closure on everything that happened. I want to go and burry Emily before I worry about loving my enemy as Jesus has commanded. I want to not think about it yet but Jesus is calling for more and for deeper. Let the dead burry the dead, Megan let his evil die with him and Emily and offer forgiveness now, no waiting for closure. Now I still battle with forgiving someone who I see as evil, I battle with sepatating his actions from his person. Someone who would do something so hanous seems to be evil not just do evil. But I know that I have to try and I have to learn how now even when I’d rather only mourn. No benifit will come from hating him, but rather hating what he did.

~ by mstone316 on October 1, 2006.