Monday 6 March 2023
Daniel 9:4-10. Lord, do not deal with us as our sins deserve – Psalm 78(79):8-9, 11, 13. Luke 6:36-38.
Let forgiveness spill down
When I was a teenager at summer camp, we used to sing a song called ‘Pressed down shaken together’ based on this verse in St Luke’s Gospel. Despite the unusual lyric, we loved the song. It was upbeat and had a catchy melody. But no one had any idea what it meant. It seems Christ was referring to an activity that would have been mundane and performed daily: buying and selling measures of grain. When the grain was packed down, shaken, the receptacle was able to hold the maximum amount. A generous grain seller could continue scooping and heaping grain until it spilled over the sides. I like this image, given Christ is talking in terms of mercy, forgiveness, generosity, and how we treat others. How merciful should we be? The maximum. How much should we forgive? As much as we can. Until forgiveness spills down over the sides. It’s a heart-warming idea, worthy of an upbeat song.
Email this Print This Page
