As I look to the promise that God made according to Christ's Passion;

As I look to the promise that God made according to Christ’s Passion; 

To what do I thank God for my forgiveness as I am not worthy.   Any time I borrow from another person there is an expectation that must be paid back.  So if I have been given freedom from repaying my debt what is the requirement that the Lord placed before me?  Certainly the debt of my sinfulness was paid in full when Jesus took upon himself, willingly and without a future debt to be concerned with, when he allowed and welcomed the horrible execution by the Roman Guard.   So why do I need to consider any further what I must do?  

It comes down to the idea of finding the thankfulness that doesn’t exist in a text-book theory or on a certificate of former debtors' manner of acceptance.  It lies within the same exoneration that a spouse gives to his wife; love does not need an explanation of appreciation in words - it comes from the very silent attitude of complete personification.  There is no need to speak verbally or even cuddle up as a spouse might do; it is the knowledge of being there and supporting the one who loves us only looking for that love in return.

This is the thought that if one must find a reason to return love it isn’t a realistic effort that the forgiven person needs to make excuses for.  `The saints knew this because their mercy is what they give each time they suffer a little for another person who does not know how to seek its perfection.  That is just what Christ looks for as he opens our heart to meet his bleeding heart of mercy.  

The one basic question that occurs when some doubters will exclaim; “Since God is Omnipresent why didn’t he just snap his fingers and say “everyone is forgiven, come home now!”   Certainly God could’ve done his forgiveness in a way humans would have if it was their job.  But who would believe his mercy since he isn’t human and nothing will affect him anyway.  However, since Christ assumed humanity in the Incarnation he is human and suffered just as a man would and died showing he is flesh and blood just as you and I are.  There is no way any of us could say that Jesus; a man just like us, didn’t feel the pain and humiliation in place of us and we have no further signs of his Passion that was done so we did not have to suffer.  

When we memorialize the men and women who died for freedom do not forget Christ also died for the freedom of our immortal souls.  That death (and Resurrection) supersedes all human attempts at being our savior and eternal freedom into eternity.

What the promise of God from Genesis through Revelation revealed to us is an eternal plan of total forgiveness which never will require a payment that barters for mercy.  The signed document from God is found in Genesis: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”  (Gn 1: 26).  We were created to be just like God.  Proof of this follows:  “And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, as we are one.”  (Jn 17: 22 - 23).

Ralph B. Hathaway