The “why” in forgiveness

Executive coach and mentor Bobb Biehl insists, “Until you answer the “why” question, the cost is always too high.” I heard him say this the first time in 1983—my first year in ministry—and the aphorism has stuck with me since, though candidly I’m not sure I’m always good at answering that question before, or even early in a process. Doing so would likely have saved a lot of wasted effort and not a small amount of frustration over the ensuing 40 years.

Not so with Jesus in this week’s Gospel reading.

He sets an incredibly—some think impossibly—high and costly standard of forgiveness for Peter and the rest of his disciples throughout time (a.k.a. you and me), but he clearly answers the “why” question right up front. If we have ears to hear.