Black History Month: “Big Maybelle” Smith

First Friday In Lent: Forgiveness by Henri Nouwen

So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering. Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him. Matthew 5: 23-25

“The love of God is an unconditional love, and only that love can empower us to live together without violence. When we know that God loves us deeply, and will always go on loving us, whoever we are and whatever we do, it becomes possible to expect no more than our fellow men and women are able to give, to forgive generously when they have offended us, and always to respond to their hospitality with love. By doing so we make visible anew way of being human and a new way of responding to our world problems.”

to read the rest of this devotional see Show Me the Way: Daily Lenten Readings by Henri Nouwen