The Front Door Is Always Open: Lessons in Divine Forgiveness from Les Misérables
When Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who wronged him, the answer was startling: "seventy times seven." But what did this really mean?
As our professor explains to his curious student, this wasn't a mathematical formula but a profound inversion of an ancient ethic. Where Lamech in Genesis once boasted of seventy-sevenfold vengeance, Jesus established a new kingdom ethic of unlimited mercy.
"Forgiveness begins with a decision before it becomes a feeling," the professor reminds us. "The emotions may take years to catch up." This challenging truth reminds us that forgiveness isn't merely emotional release but a deliberate choice that sometimes must be made repeatedly as new dimensions of hurt surface.
In the divine economy, forgiveness always costs someone something—a reality perfectly demonstrated at the cross...
Your Past Self Didn't Fail: A C.S. Lewis Perspective on Personal Growth
In the luminous moments between past and present, just like a path through an enchanted forest, our journey of growth reveals itself as more beautiful than we imagined. C.S. Lewis, from his study at Oxford's Magdalen College, offers us a profound truth: your past self didn't fail - they succeeded in bringing you exactly where you needed to be. Through the lens of Lewis's own transformation from atheist to Christian apologist, discover how every step, even those that seemed to lead astray, was illuminating the path forward. This reflection explores how our perceived failures are often like waves that propel a boat forward, or switchbacks on a mountain trail that make the impossible climb possible. Join us as we explore why your previous chapters weren't mistakes, but rather stepping stones guiding you through your own enchanted journey of faith and personal growth.