And don’t forget forgiveness, because the healing is in Christ, the Author of Life, the Vanquish of Death.  We heard it declared in Peter’s profession, in the gospel of Matthew that “Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”  We acknowledge it, urged by Christ in the Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”  We watched it demonstrated at the crucifixion, with Christ even then, before His last breath, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”  We accept it mandated at the Sermon on the Mount, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”  This statement sums up the importance of every venerable syllable taught by Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter 18, on forgiveness.

Brothers and Sisters
As God’s own
Clothe yourselves with compassion
Kindness and patience,
Forgiving each other
As you have just heard—
The Lord has forgiven you,
And crown all these things with love,
Which binds everything together
In a sealed certainty,
Forever.
With God who loves us,

Remembering our forgiveness,
Now, let us worship