The Grace That Reconciles

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” – Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

Forgiveness is not merely a moral virtue—it is a divine act that reshapes human relationships. In Colossians, Paul writes to a community learning to live as the body of Christ, clothed in compassion, humility, and love. Forgiveness is not optional; it is the fabric of Christian fellowship.

Louie Zamperini’s story, as told in Unbroken, is a powerful witness to the healing that comes through Christ. After enduring brutal abuse in a Japanese prison camp, Zamperini returned home consumed by rage. But when he encountered the grace of Jesus, he found the strength to forgive—even his tormentor. That forgiveness did not erase the past, but it transformed his future.

Yet most of our grievances are not born in war—they arise in the quiet fractures of daily life. A careless word. A forgotten promise. A wound left unspoken. These small offenses, when left unattended, become footholds for division. Paul warns us not to let such grievances fester. “Bear with each other,” he writes—not because it’s easy, but because it’s Christlike.

To forgive “as the Lord forgave you” is to remember that we were reconciled not when we were righteous, but while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). Christ’s forgiveness is not transactional—it is transformational. It restores us to God and one another. When we forgive, we do not simply let go of a grievance; we participate in the reconciling work of God.

Forgiveness is not forgetting. It is remembering rightly—through the lens of grace. It is choosing to see the other not as an enemy, but as a sibling. Forgiveness often feels like surrender, like laying down the armor we’ve worn to protect our wounds. It is the Spirit’s work in us, making space for healing, humility, and holy love. And every act of forgiveness is a glimpse of God’s ultimate reconciliation—when all things, in heaven and on earth, will be made whole in Christ (Colossians 1:20).

This call to forgiveness is not only personal—it is liturgical. Across Christian traditions—from Orthodox to Catholic, Anglican to Lutheran, and within our own Methodist heritage—the Passing of the Peace is more than a liturgical gesture. It is a sacred act of reconciliation, rooted in Jesus’ words: “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23–24)

Before we approach the Table of Grace, we extend peace to one another, embodying the forgiveness we have received in Christ. This moment is not a break in worship—it is worship. It is the Spirit’s invitation to lay down our grievances and pick up grace.

To pass the peace is to say: I hold no grievance against you. I come to the Table with open hands and a clean heart. It is a gesture of humility, a practice of mercy, and a preparation for Holy Communion. In forgiving and being forgiven, we do not simply restore relationships—we participate in the reconciling love of God.

Merciful God, you forgave us not because we deserved it, but because love compelled you. You bore our sins on the cross and raised us into new life. Teach us to forgive as you forgive—fully, freely, and without condition.  Where bitterness has taken root, sow peace. Where silence has hardened hearts, speak grace. Help us bear with one another, not out of duty, but out of delight in your mercy. May our forgiveness be a witness to your reconciling love. Prepare our hearts to pass the peace and receive your feast with joy. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Peace & Grace,

Pastor Tim