God's Gift of Mercy and Forgiveness

by Deacon Lorna Goodison on September 15, 2022

Most of us enjoy reading Jesus’ parables. Parables spark our imagination and inspire us to think about life through God’s eyes. By faith, we take a glimpse into God’s world through parables, and with spiritual eyes, we see that God desires the world to be a place where everyone flourishes and lives in love, joy, and peace. To attain God’s dream, He offers every person His gifts of mercy, compassion, and forgiveness,

      Last Sunday we read two of Jesus’ parables that spoke of God’s merciful forgiveness for the lost. They were the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin. Next Sunday, we will read another of Jesus’ parables that declares God’s forgiveness (Luke 16:1-13). In this parable, a rich man heard that his manager was squandering company funds. He intended to dismiss the manager but first requested an accounting of his management. The manager pondered what would be his lot after losing his job. He reckoned that he could not do manual labor and he was too ashamed to accept charity.  No longer would he be living among the wealthy but would be like those whose loans he administered. Cunningly, he decided to falsely decrease the amount that each borrower owed, with the motive of winning their hospitality.  He essentially forgave some of the borrowers’ debt and his shrewd action transformed a bad situation into one that benefitted everyone. The borrowers were pleased and esteemed the rich company owner. The rich man was happy for the honor he received from the borrowers and commended the manager for his business acumen. The manager was in good graces with both the borrowers and the rich man.  

       Following the world’s rule of law, justice demanded that the borrowers pay back the complete debt. Justice also demanded that the manager be dismissed for misappropriating the rich man’s property. But in the parable, we are confronted with a God who challenges justice without mercy and shows us the better way.  Jesus uses this worldly example to point to God’s lenience, God’s compassion, God’s generosity in forgiving us. The forgiveness offered to the borrowers may be interpreted as the merciful forgiveness that God offers us for the debt we owe Him. We may recall Jesus’ words to the woman caught in adultery, “go and sin no more” (John 8:11).  We too are also called to forgive others and mend fences.

        Jesus further uses the parable to point to the shrewdness of the people of the world in winning favors and securing an earthly future.  While Jesus did not condone dishonesty, the takeaway is that in the world, shrewdly manipulating “dishonest wealth” became the means of transforming a challenging situation into a secure future. In like manner “children of the light” ought to consider how to shrewdly use our lives and all of God’s great gifts to attract others, rich and poor, into a secure future in God’s kingdom of light and love.

   Lord, may we be effective ministers of your word, not only with our lips but with our lives, our very being.  Amen

Tags: forgiveness, parable, merciful, mend, shrewdness

About the Author
Deacon Lorna Goodison

Reverend Lorna Goodison was ordained to the Diaconate on April 29, 2007. After discerning a call to ordained ministry, Deacon Lorna completed a process of spiritual discernment and pursued three years of study at the Diocesan School for Christian Studies. She also completed three units of hospice care training through Vitas and for a short while she was a volunteer Chaplain. Highlights of her continuing education activities include a guided visit to Israel and attending the Festival of Homiletics in Boulder, Colorado.

Soon after her ordination, Deacon Lorna was called to serve as Deacon at St. Mary Magdalene. She initiated an outreach ministry to the homeless at St. Laurence Chapel, obtaining the support and involvement of most members of the congregation. This ministry remained a vibrant outreach of the Church until the Chapel closed in 2019.  Other outreach ministries formed include an informal group of members who stay in touch with members who are ill and shut-in. Deacon Lorna remains committed to both the in-reach and outreach ministries of the Church. She has led quiet day reflections for groups within and outside of St. Mary Magdalene. She has often led Deacon’s Masses at small churches without a priest. Of all the ministries in which Deacon Lorna participates, she is most humbled and grateful to be involved in the ministry of praying with congregants facing life’s challenges.

Deacon Lorna serves the Diocese of Southeast Florida as a member of the Disciplinary Committee. She also serves on the Board of Deacons.   

Professionally, Deacon Lorna worked for some years in Human Resource Departments as a Training Manager, but most of her working years were spent in Social Work. She worked with at-risk teenagers counselling them and guiding them to resources to build a meaningful future. The last twenty years of her profession, were spent working with Seniors, guiding them to the resources needed to maintain their safety and independence. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a master’s degree in Adult Education. She is now retired, cherishes some alone time for prayer and reflection, but divides her time between the Church and her family which consists of two daughters, their husbands and three grandchildren.

Back to Deacon's Corner