As most of those attending the Golden Retreat are grandparents, we understand that, to grandchildren, promises are important. If you promise ice cream and do not deliver for example, you have violated a child’s trust. And so, our consensus was that most grandparents are very sensitive to making such promises and rarely treat them lightly.
We understand that promises made to God should not be treated lightly either. And such promises are regularly made at baptisms, confirmations and weddings. While those promises are often broken, we are reminded that sometimes we ourselves break them; we don’t always fully keep them. Are we to be trusted?
Fortunately, God also made a promise to us: that we are saved through the power of Jesus’ sacrifice, meaning that our broken promises can be forgiven. And, like a loving grandparent, God does not take that promise lightly. This part of Paul’s sermon is a reminder of how far God will go to fulfill the promise to us.
Forgiving God, each of us, in our own way, has broken promises made to you. Forgive us for failing you. And thank you for the blessing you bestow on us in forgiveness. Amen. — LGR