(Some thoughts from my morning devotions, inspired by Richard Rohr's 'Near Occasions of Grace', Orbis, 1993, pp. 100 ff.)

'If your brother or sister sins against you, go and tell them their fault, between you alone' (Matthew 18:15).

Unless there is a willingness to be 'spiritually naked', open and without pretense, there can be no real reconciliation between persons. 'We will sit around waiting and praying for the vindication of our own righteousness.'

We do not have the whole truth, so we must risk conflict-making. 'The truth will set you *free*, but it will also set you *down*.'

Sometimes our angers masquerade as a zeal for righteousness, truth and purity... but may cover pretense. [The Christian gospel may be described as 'the unfolding of the mystery of forgiveness'. You can't be renewed without forgiveness: you'll go on repeating the old patterns. But there may be 'too much pseudo-forgiveness and quick reconciliation in Christian circles. It has the character of problem-solving and Yankee pragmatism instead of the patient and humble spirit of Jesus.'

[In our community] 'I had them paint "70 x 7" over the main doorway. New mail carriers would always think it was the address! It *was* our address, in a way. It is the distinctive hallmark of a people liberated by Christ. For Christian community is not where forgiveness is unnecessary or unneeded. Christian community is where forgiveness is free to happen. And if it doesn't happen - on a daily basis - there will be no Christian community.'

Shalom!

Rowland Croucher