God of Grace and God of Hope,
we lift our hearts to You with gratitude.
Help us to remember that regret
is not the same as repentance,
that we may accept the consequences of our actions fully
and be led to true renewal and faithfulness.
Blessed Jesus, help us to honor forgiveness
and those who are brave enough to forgive
as an act of resistance to evil
and an act of empowerment of the soul,
as well as a gift we give to ourselves
to reclaim our lives as your children.
Spirit of the Living God,
gather within your embrace
all those who mourn and weep and worry this day,
especially those we now name.
Amen.
Photo from NPR- Brandt Jean, Both Jean's brother, hugs his brother's killer after announcing that he forgave her. His act set off a debate about forgiveness as well as repentance and justice.
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