The text is below the video…

“Forgive”. Sunday Sermon 5/10/20. Alan Neale. Trinity Church, Newport, RI

Acts 7:60 “Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.”

Over the years I have married hundreds of couples; some of them ask for intentional pre-marital counseling, others tend to raise ,matters of concern as we prepare for the ceremony. To each and every couple, I always stress, emphasize, underline that the most powerful force to create, maintain and nurture any human relationship is the power of forgiveness.

As we talk about this, I help the couples accept that each of them may deal with the process differently… one partner may want to take a little time apart, to reflect, to process, to consolidate and then begin the wonder-working power of forgiveness… the other partner might want to deal with process there and then… they have to accept each other’s style and work with it.

I stress also the process of actually using the words “Please forgive me…” followed by the actual words “I forgive you”. This word “forgive” is like “love” – it can mean nothing because of too common usage or it can carry the very life blood to rejuvenate an ailing relationship. The word forgive carries these meanings (and many more) “I send away, I let go, release, permit to depart, I remit, forgive, I permit, suffer” – yes “suffer”, that’s interesting. Think about it!

On  page 471 in the Book of Common Prayer, these words are spoken by the priest during the Reconciliation of a Penitent, “In the name of Christ I absolve you from all your sins…” This comes after the penitent has made oral confession and the priest has shared some spiritual guidance. Every time I speak these words, whether formally or informally, I am so honored to bear this powerful, effective ministry in the Name of Christ and of the Church. You want to look at the liturgy sometime?

Only a few days before Stephen’s martyrdom, (Acts 6:4-5) he had been chosen by the apostles to “serve at tables” and they would give themselves to “serving the word”. Clearly the Lord had other plans for Stephen and we next find himself preaching with authority, authenticity and effect. And for this he is hauled before the council and condemned with lies and false accusations shaping his future.

Stephen is then graced (in the Spirit) to see the heavens opened and Jesus standing in glorious authority and power. As they stone him, he prays, “Lord, receive my spirit” and just before he dies he pronounces power words of absolution, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them”. And then he died.

This man Stephen, graced with the face of an angel, is assured of heavenly reality and Jesus’ authority. His words of surrender are empower by his experience and vision of Jesus; his words of forgiveness are empowered by his experience and vision of Jesus. Dear Friend, if you are finding it hard to forgive… for a while, put aside the task and try to spend time in spiritual direction, reflection and… surrender. And, of course, we note that as Stephen died as did his beloved Lord… with surrender and forgiveness on his lips. Dear Friend, this is the way of the Crucified, this is the way of the Crucified’s followers.

And a final note… sometimes overlook in the pathos and energy of these verses. Verse 58 “Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul”. “A young man called Saul” – an ardent, cruel, persistent persecutor of Christians and all things Christian. “A young man called Saul” – soon to become Paul the most persistent, persuasive purveyor and apostle for the Gospel.

I believe that though in that awful moment he took the coats to enable the throwing of stones to be done with the most vigor; also in that moment he saw the power of Jesus at work in Stephen and this took deep root in his soul and psyche and would one day flourish when he met the persecuted Lord on the road to Damascus.

This power of forgiveness is without limit, endlessly creative and constantly ennobling. Let us follow in the steps of Stephen… and of Jesus. Amen