My Lenten Confessional: Day 10

Dear God:

If it weren’t for Jesus, I’d have nothing to confess today (of course, if it weren’t for Jesus, I wouldn’t be forgiven either so….). If this were Old Testament times, I could happily claim I’ve never once broken today’s commandment. I have never, ever murdered anyone. 

But Jesus complicates it by broadening this definition. And since I love Jesus–try to follow Jesus–I gotta go with his ideas, and with this, I need forgiving. 

Jesus says, “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court.And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”

And I’ve done this plenty. Forgive me for the times I spend angry at others. For the times I speak–or think–contemptuously about another, for the times I consider others fools. Forgive me for the ways I’ve mishandled relationships, for the harsh or evil words I’ve spoken against people I should be building up, not tearing down.

Amen.

Click here for the other confessions and click here for the reason I’m even doing this.