Category: Forgiveness

The Right Words

Perhaps you saw it. The headline caught my attention as it boldly proclaimed, “An Arizona priest used one wrong word in baptisms for decades. They’re all invalid.”[1] And the headline wasn’t just talking about one or two baptisms, but thousands of baptisms that took place since the priest started his ministry in 1995. Rather than reciting, “I baptize you,” his habit was to say, “We baptize you.” Because of his mistake, made in both English and Spanish over the years, Rev. Andres Arango, described as a good priest, resigned.

The article goes on to state that:

As far as the diocese is aware, all of the other sacraments that Arango conferred are valid. But because baptism is the “sacrament that grants access to all the others,” a botched baptism could invalidate any subsequent sacraments, including confirmation, marriage and holy orders.

“What this means for you is, if your baptism was invalid and you’ve received other sacraments, you may need to repeat some or all of those sacraments after you are validly baptized as well,” the diocese said.[2]

When I first heard this on the news, I was speechless. Incredulous might be a better word. Even though I’m not Roman Catholic, my heart goes out to those poor souls, thousands of them over the past quarter century, who are now being told by their church authorities that they are not really a part of the church because of a “mistake” made by a priest due to a single word he uttered.

I am sure this will be the topic of many theological and philosophical debates. Ecclesiastical law, semantics, and likely the priest’s ethnicity and language will be analyzed, scrutinized, and categorized for some time. All because of a single word, intended to convey a good thing, but suddenly upsetting the lives of the very persons it was intended to bless.

It is sometimes difficult to find the right word, isn’t it? Finding the right words or getting the words right is something that preachers like me spend a lot of time on. And the Bible has a lot to say about our words, as did Jesus. Remember when He said, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:37 NKJV)?

The Apostle Paul said, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13 NIV), which was a paraphrase of Joel 2:32 in the Old Testament.

It doesn’t sound difficult. It doesn’t require reciting an exact word or phrase. It couldn’t be more inclusive. Everyone has an equal opportunity to “call on the name of the Lord,” and find salvation and eternal life. It is sad that such a simple thing could become so complicated and confusing.

Jesus told a story about two men praying. One, a very religious man, used a lot of fancy language and did his best to point out to God that he was righteous and worthy. Jesus pointed out that this man’s boasting did nothing to gain God’s attention or admiration. In stark contrast, the other man, considered a great sinner, “stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’” Jesus went on to say, “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:13-14 NIV)

God had mercy on the man who asked for it. What are the right words that our merciful God listens to? Sincere words. Humble words. Truthful words. Caring words. Loving words. Compassionate words. Contrite words. Grateful words. Heartfelt words. Halting words. Faith-filled words. Intercessory words. Clear words. Kind words. Simple words.

Even as He died upon the cross, we see the contrast between the right and wrong words. Dying between two criminals, one spoke words of derision, the other spoke words of contrition. This is how Luke 23:39-43 (NIV) describes the scene:

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Simple words. Dying words. Sincere words. The right words: “Jesus, remember me.” No baptism. There wasn’t time or opportunity for it. No long confession to a priest. Just a heartfelt plea to the High Priest, Jesus Christ. And Jesus’ response was good news for all of us sinners who call upon the Lord: “. . .today you will be with me in paradise.”

Jesus often used simple words, words a child could understand. He called his first disciples in John chapter one using 5 simple words. “Follow me. Come and see.” Those were the right words to draw them into a lifetime of adventure, travel, and service. Those simple words were the right words that changed the world and are still changing lives today.

The most important words, the right words, are often difficult to speak.

I am sorry.

I was wrong.

Please forgive me.

I forgive you.

I love you.

I care.

But don’t wait until your dying day. Practice saying the right words until they come automatically from your heart. Don’t worry about getting them wrong. Don’t worry that somebody higher up will rule them invalid. Jesus always receives these as the right words. And in the end, His opinion is the only one that counts.

©2022 Don Detrick

[1] “An Arizona priest used one wrong word in baptisms for decades. They’re all invalid.” NPR News Religion, February 15, 2022. Accessed 2/16/2022 at https://www.npr.org/2022/02/15/1080829813/priest-resigns-baptisms?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20220216&utm_term=6328018&utm_campaign=news&utm_id=4920732&orgid=&utm_att1

[2] Ibid.

Easter Hope: Resurrection & Reconciliation

Easter hope Resurrection & Reconciliation - PorcupineThe German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860) compared the human race to a bunch of porcupines huddling together on a cold winter’s night. He said, “The colder it gets outside, the more we huddle together for warmth; but the closer we get to one another, the more we hurt one another with our sharp quills. And in the lonely night of earth’s winter eventually we begin to drift apart and wander out on our own and freeze to death in our loneliness.”[1]

But winter does not last forever, and in the Spring Easter warms the cold heart with hope. Christ provided us an alternative: to forgive each other for the intentional and unintentional pokes we receive. Because Jesus died and rose again, we have hope. Forgiveness, kindness and compassion are at the heart of the Gospel. Even in the face of injustice and sinful arrogance, Christians must have hope. Even in the face of anger and hate, Christians must have hope. Even in the face of war and violence and death itself, Christians must have hope. That’s what Easter is all about: hope for resurrection and reconciliation.

The Civil War was the most un-civil period in American history. It is hard to imagine the hatred, animosity and strife, not just between the states, but also between families and friends and neighbors.  620,000 American soldiers on both sides lost their lives in battle or as a direct result of the conflict. To place that in perspective, we must realize that the entire population of the United States at the time was a little over 30 million – thus over 2.0% mortality from the bloody war! All told, there were more casualties in the Civil War than in all wars America has fought combined from then until now.

During the war, half the men of military age in the state of Iowa served in the Union army and more than 12,500 of them died and more than 8,500 of them went home with serious wounds. The devastation in the south was even worse. Ten billion dollars in property damage – 40% of its livestock destroyed. The state of Mississippi spent 20% of its budget on artificial limbs for the wounded in 1866.[2]

In 1913, the Federal government held a fiftieth anniversary reunion at Gettysburg. It lasted three days. Survivors of unspeakable atrocities bivouacked in the old battlefield together, swapping stories, and looking up old comrades. They had witnessed the worst of the human race, but now these aged soldiers and one time mortal enemies came together for a final memorial meeting.

The climax of the gathering was a re-enactment of Pickett’s Charge. Thousands of spectators gathered to watch as the Union veterans took their positions on Cemetery Ridge, and waited as their old adversaries emerged from the woods on Seminary Ridge and started forward toward them across the long, flat fields. Philip Myers, (who witnessed the event as an 18-year-old) wrote, “We could see not rifles and bayonets but canes and crutches.  We soon could distinguish the more agile ones aiding those less able to maintain their places in the ranks.”

As they neared the northern line, they broke into one final, defiant rebel yell.  At the sound, “after half a century of silence, a moan, a sigh, a gigantic gasp of unbelief” rose from the Union men on cemetery Ridge.

“It was then,” wrote Myers, “that the Yankees, unable to restrain themselves longer, burst from behind the stone wall, and flung themselves upon their former enemies. . .not in mortal combat, but reunited in brotherly love and affection.”

“It was,” says Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, a Union hero of Gettysburg, “a transcendental experience.  A radiant fellowship of the fallen.”[3]

“A radiant fellowship of the fallen.” With all due respect to those Civil War heroes, that also seems a fitting description for a community of believers in Jesus Christ. Though fallen in sin, we are picked up and redeemed in Christ.

If members of the Civil War could discover reconciliation and forgiveness, surely we can find hope through reconciliation for the uncivil way humans—friends, strangers and family members alike—sometimes treat each other. And on this Easter Sunday as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, let’s not forget what He said on Good Friday as He suffered unjustly at the hands of those He created:  “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  (Luke 22:34 NIV)

Maybe the quills of broken promises and broken lines of communication have popped your balloon of hope. Maybe things just haven’t turned out as you expected.  Jesus rose from the dead so our hopes and dreams could be resurrected and we could be reconciled to him and to each other.

Jesus Christ is unique for two miraculous reasons: a virgin’s womb and an empty tomb. As fully God and fully human, Jesus suffered as no man ever suffered, and on the cross took upon Himself the sins of the world. His resurrection from the dead offers hope for the future and makes possible reconciliation for us all. Isn’t that a better choice than being poked by porcupines?


[2]The Civil War by Geoffrey C. Ward, Ric & Ken Burns.  New York:  Alfred A. Knopf, 1990   pp. 398-404.

[3]From Ken Burns, The Civil War Video series Vol. 9.  http://hardtogetvideos.com/civil_war.html