WEBVTT
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Morning has broken like the first morning.
00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.159
Those are powerful lyrics.
00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:41.439
You know I've always loved this song because it's all about hope, renewal, giving praise, and thanksgiving.
00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:45.600
And really, isn't that why we've gathered here today?
00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:48.240
So thank you for joining us.
00:00:48.880 --> 00:00:50.560
Welcome to prayer.
00:00:52.079 --> 00:00:56.960
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
00:00:57.280 --> 00:00:57.920
Amen.
00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:04.480
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.
00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:07.760
Psalm 18.
00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:09.519
Majesty.
00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:13.439
It is no wonder that I love you, O God.
00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:18.879
You have granted me a security that I could never find among the things of the world.
00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:25.840
You have erased from my life the fear of death.
00:01:26.159 --> 00:01:31.040
What follows the grave no longer causes fearful concern.
00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:38.959
You are never out of reach, but are ever aware of my conflicts and my need for you.
00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:45.680
How great and all-powerful is my God.
00:01:46.319 --> 00:01:56.000
The quaking of the earth, the shaking of the mountains, the blackness of the night, the beauty of the heavens, the breeze that brushes my face.
00:01:56.480 --> 00:02:00.560
How glorious in the majesty of God all around me.
00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:07.680
Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:11.919
As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever.
00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:12.879
Amen.
00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:35.120
And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.
00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:38.560
The word of the Lord.
00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:46.000
There are certain times in life when keeping score is important.
00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:50.400
I was at a softball game for my oldest daughter recently.
00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:57.439
And since it was a tournament, they were keeping score to see who would win and move on to the next game.
00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:03.599
Unfortunately, the score wasn't very favorable for our team.
00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:06.400
And uh, I mean it wasn't even close.
00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:08.240
But that's a sport.
00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:13.120
We we keep score, somebody wins, somebody loses.
00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:18.319
I think that's what Jesus is getting at in today's gospel.
00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:25.599
Because whether we realize it or not, we can spend a lot of our lives keeping score.
00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:31.840
Someone hurts us and we feel that they owe us an apology.
00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:38.159
Someone disappoints us and they owe us an explanation.
00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:42.400
We're treated unfairly and we remember it.
00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:46.400
Maybe we don't say anything, but we tuck it away.
00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:53.280
And before long, we've created our own little scorecard of who owes us what.
00:03:54.879 --> 00:04:00.159
And if I'm being truthful, I can be pretty good at keeping score, unfortunately.
00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:08.319
What's interesting about today's reading is that Jesus connects two things we often like to keep separate.
00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:13.039
Being forgiven and forgiving others.
00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:16.240
We love the first part.
00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:19.759
We ask God for forgiveness all the time.
00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:29.040
We know we make mistakes, we lose our patience, and say things that we shouldn't and fail to love the way we're called to love.
00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:32.480
But we trust that God will forgive us.
00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:39.360
But then Jesus asks us to offer that same forgiveness to others.
00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:43.040
And that's where things get a little more challenging.
00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:50.560
Because it's easy to want mercy for ourselves while expecting everyone else to settle their debts.
00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:53.680
But God's love doesn't work that way.
00:04:55.199 --> 00:04:59.199
And forgiveness doesn't mean that what someone did was okay.
00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:04.319
Doesn't mean we have to forget what happened to pretend we weren't hurt.
00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:12.879
It means making a choice not to let that hurt define how we live or how we treat someone.
00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:20.319
Sometimes that choice has to be made over and over again.
00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:24.560
Forgiveness isn't always a feeling.
00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:26.639
Sometimes it's a decision.
00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:33.439
A decision to let go of resentment and to stop replaying what happened.
00:05:34.720 --> 00:05:40.079
Because the longer we hold on to those debts, the more they begin to weigh us down.
00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:46.240
And maybe the person we're really hurting by keeping score is ourselves.
00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:56.560
So perhaps today we can ask ourselves a simple question: Who am I keeping score with?
00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:04.959
Someone in our family, a friend, a co-worker, someone who hurt us years ago.
00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:10.879
Maybe we aren't ready to completely let go of that hurt just yet.
00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:16.240
But we can begin by asking God for the grace to forgive.
00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:25.519
Because in the end, Jesus isn't asking us to win, He's asking us to love.
00:06:27.759 --> 00:06:35.839
And maybe the greatest freedom comes when we finally stop keeping score.
00:06:55.839 --> 00:06:58.399
With confidence, we pray.
00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:22.879
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:23.519
Amen.
00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:26.959
Let us pray.
00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:32.000
Heavenly Father, we thank you for your endless mercy and love.
00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:42.079
As we reflect on the words of Matthew, teach us to seek your forgiveness with humble hearts and to forgive those who have hurt us.
00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:50.000
Remove any resentment or bitterness that keeps us from loving others as you love us.
00:07:50.560 --> 00:08:01.439
Through the grace of your Son Jesus Christ, help us to live each day with hearts open to your mercy and willing to extend that same mercy to others.
00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:05.680
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:06.319
Amen.
00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:11.600
To you do I belong, O God.
00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:15.279
Into your hands I surrender my life.
00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:25.199
Pour out your Spirit upon me, that I may love you perfectly and serve you faithfully until my soul rests in you.
00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:35.279
Remember that we have asked the Lord to forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors.
00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:39.279
So go forth in love and forgiveness.
00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:46.480
And may Almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:51.039
We look forward to seeing you tomorrow.
00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:28.800
Morning has broken like the first morning.
00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:32.159
Those are powerful lyrics.
00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:41.439
You know I've always loved this song because it's all about hope, renewal, giving praise, and thanksgiving.
00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:45.600
And really, isn't that why we've gathered here today?
00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:48.240
So thank you for joining us.
00:00:48.880 --> 00:00:50.560
Welcome to prayer.
00:00:52.079 --> 00:00:56.960
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
00:00:57.280 --> 00:00:57.920
Amen.
00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:04.480
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.
00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:07.760
Psalm 18.
00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:09.519
Majesty.
00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:13.439
It is no wonder that I love you, O God.
00:01:13.840 --> 00:01:18.879
You have granted me a security that I could never find among the things of the world.
00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:25.840
You have erased from my life the fear of death.
00:01:26.159 --> 00:01:31.040
What follows the grave no longer causes fearful concern.
00:01:31.680 --> 00:01:38.959
You are never out of reach, but are ever aware of my conflicts and my need for you.
00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:45.680
How great and all-powerful is my God.
00:01:46.319 --> 00:01:56.000
The quaking of the earth, the shaking of the mountains, the blackness of the night, the beauty of the heavens, the breeze that brushes my face.
00:01:56.480 --> 00:02:00.560
How glorious in the majesty of God all around me.
00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:07.680
Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:11.919
As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever.
00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:12.879
Amen.
00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:35.120
And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.
00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:38.560
The word of the Lord.
00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:46.000
There are certain times in life when keeping score is important.
00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:50.400
I was at a softball game for my oldest daughter recently.
00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:57.439
And since it was a tournament, they were keeping score to see who would win and move on to the next game.
00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:03.599
Unfortunately, the score wasn't very favorable for our team.
00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:06.400
And uh, I mean it wasn't even close.
00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:08.240
But that's a sport.
00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:13.120
We we keep score, somebody wins, somebody loses.
00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:18.319
I think that's what Jesus is getting at in today's gospel.
00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:25.599
Because whether we realize it or not, we can spend a lot of our lives keeping score.
00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:31.840
Someone hurts us and we feel that they owe us an apology.
00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:38.159
Someone disappoints us and they owe us an explanation.
00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:42.400
We're treated unfairly and we remember it.
00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:46.400
Maybe we don't say anything, but we tuck it away.
00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:53.280
And before long, we've created our own little scorecard of who owes us what.
00:03:54.879 --> 00:04:00.159
And if I'm being truthful, I can be pretty good at keeping score, unfortunately.
00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:08.319
What's interesting about today's reading is that Jesus connects two things we often like to keep separate.
00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:13.039
Being forgiven and forgiving others.
00:04:14.960 --> 00:04:16.240
We love the first part.
00:04:17.279 --> 00:04:19.759
We ask God for forgiveness all the time.
00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:29.040
We know we make mistakes, we lose our patience, and say things that we shouldn't and fail to love the way we're called to love.
00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:32.480
But we trust that God will forgive us.
00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:39.360
But then Jesus asks us to offer that same forgiveness to others.
00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:43.040
And that's where things get a little more challenging.
00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:50.560
Because it's easy to want mercy for ourselves while expecting everyone else to settle their debts.
00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:53.680
But God's love doesn't work that way.
00:04:55.199 --> 00:04:59.199
And forgiveness doesn't mean that what someone did was okay.
00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:04.319
Doesn't mean we have to forget what happened to pretend we weren't hurt.
00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:12.879
It means making a choice not to let that hurt define how we live or how we treat someone.
00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:20.319
Sometimes that choice has to be made over and over again.
00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:24.560
Forgiveness isn't always a feeling.
00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:26.639
Sometimes it's a decision.
00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:33.439
A decision to let go of resentment and to stop replaying what happened.
00:05:34.720 --> 00:05:40.079
Because the longer we hold on to those debts, the more they begin to weigh us down.
00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:46.240
And maybe the person we're really hurting by keeping score is ourselves.
00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:56.560
So perhaps today we can ask ourselves a simple question: Who am I keeping score with?
00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:04.959
Someone in our family, a friend, a co-worker, someone who hurt us years ago.
00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:10.879
Maybe we aren't ready to completely let go of that hurt just yet.
00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:16.240
But we can begin by asking God for the grace to forgive.
00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:25.519
Because in the end, Jesus isn't asking us to win, He's asking us to love.
00:06:27.759 --> 00:06:35.839
And maybe the greatest freedom comes when we finally stop keeping score.
00:06:55.839 --> 00:06:58.399
With confidence, we pray.
00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:22.879
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:23.519
Amen.
00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:26.959
Let us pray.
00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:32.000
Heavenly Father, we thank you for your endless mercy and love.
00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:42.079
As we reflect on the words of Matthew, teach us to seek your forgiveness with humble hearts and to forgive those who have hurt us.
00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:50.000
Remove any resentment or bitterness that keeps us from loving others as you love us.
00:07:50.560 --> 00:08:01.439
Through the grace of your Son Jesus Christ, help us to live each day with hearts open to your mercy and willing to extend that same mercy to others.
00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:05.680
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:06.319
Amen.
00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:11.600
To you do I belong, O God.
00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:15.279
Into your hands I surrender my life.
00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:25.199
Pour out your Spirit upon me, that I may love you perfectly and serve you faithfully until my soul rests in you.
00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:35.279
Remember that we have asked the Lord to forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors.
00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:39.279
So go forth in love and forgiveness.
00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:46.480
And may Almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:51.039
We look forward to seeing you tomorrow.
