” Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21-22
Did you watch the Oscars show last night ? Oscar night is when the Academy of Motion Pictures selects the best movie, director , actress, actor for the previous year. Shirley and I enjoy movies, so we usually watch parts of the show. It is one big ad for the movie and fashion industry. Women are dressed by the best designers in the world. The best songs are sung, and clips from the best nominated films are shown throughout the evening. The show was going along fine, and then it all fell apart. Chris Rock, an African-American comedian who is always on the edge, came on to present the award for best documentary. He tells jokes for a living, and he told a joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith. Jada’s husband Will Smith ( also African-American ) first laughed, and then when he saw his wife’s reaction, got up off his chair. He walked straight to the stage, and slapped Chris Rock in the face, and sat back down, yelling at Rock.
Just a few minutes later, Will Smith won the best male acting award. He got up, and among many things he said, was that you stand up for the ones you love. He apologized to the other nominees, and the Academy, but did not apologize to Chris Rock. As always, forgiveness is complex. Off colour humour is what Chris Rock does. Is he a bully ? Will Smith committed a violent act, and no one did anything. He was able to accept his award. I think they should have stopped the show when the slap occurred. What do you think ? We cannot require people to apologize. That is not real forgiveness. What should have been done at the Oscar party ? What do you think of Jesus’ math ?
From The Message interpretation of Matthew 18:21-22 : ” At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?” Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.”
Fred
Chaos in the winds Scattering my troubled thoughts to land on soft clouds Monica Pieper Landoni 2022
