Then Jesus tells us that forgiveness is given unto us for all of us. How blind we become when we fail to share that great gift of forgiveness with others. How corrupt and tainted our Christianity becomes when we fail to give it freely and faithfully to all of humanity. How cruel it is to sell that which is given to us as if it were a commodity to be placed and shelved in the backrooms of indifference and greed!

In so many ways, Jesus tells us that Christianity is a religion of the heart embellished with the garment of forgiveness available to all of us. Strangely it is a religion that doesn't pass those who have fallen into the crucible of life's waste places. Indeed, this heart religion speaks forgiveness to the bruised and the broken. Indeed, this heart religion speaks forgiveness to the humbled and downtrodden who have been forgotten and taken captive by the captivity of inactivity. Paul reminded the church clearly and most astutely that his whole being moved and acted within the divine prerogative of Christ!

Resoundedly, Luther reminded the church that Christianity had become for him a "tasty religion". He had gone deep into the wells of faith and forgiveness and tasted the cool waters of the Lord's grace.

The story is told where a Senior Pastor had just finished preaching on forgiveness. It was during a Communion Sunday, and it included a time of sharing with the Lord's Supper. The Pastor had asked if anyone had something to share when one of his deacons, an 87 year old man, stood up. He began, "For eighty-four years I have hated a little boy. Eighty-four years ago this little boy came riding up to me on his bike and said, 'Ha ha ha ha, your mother is dead'. And this is how I learned my mother had died. Today I want to forgive that boy."

Forgiveness is supremely lovely when we realize that today, right now, we have a golden opportunity to forgive everyone. God leaves it "up" to us as we decide when, where and how forgiveness will take place!

Forgiveness is supremely lovely because God is still in the forgiving business!

Forgiveness is supremely lovely because God picked up an ex-convict by the name of Moses and forgave 600,000 needy folk under his command!

Forgiveness is supremely lovely because God gathered up some leftover bread and fed 5000 hungry folk!

Forgiveness is supremely lovely because God gave us His only begotten Son, Jesus, when He stepped out of His divinity and put on the robe of humanity just for us!

Forgiveness is supremely lovely because Jesus rose up with all power in His hands!

Forgiveness is supremely lovely because it is still running freely to us from the blood-filled, sin removing cross at Calvary!

Forgiveness is supremely lovely because Jesus stretched out His arms around us!

Forgiveness is supremely lovely because it has no walls between us!

Forgiveness is supremely lovely because Jesus came to see about us!

Forgiveness is supremely lovely because it is not left up to us solely!

Forgiveness is supremely lovely because it is left up to God's lovely mercy for us!

Forgiveness is supremely lovely because it is given unto us for all of us! Pressed down! Shaken together! Reaching up for us! Pressed down! Shaken together! Reaching up for us!