The Power of Forgiveness

As a pastor I've preached on forgiveness on many occasions. It's one of those subjects that pops up regularly in the lectionary and it is central to the Christian faith. But the things for which I am called to forgive are minuscule compared to those who have experienced genocide. The Holocaust is that singular event in the 20th century that not only confounds us but calls for us all to search deep inside for to discern our own complicity with the persecution and oppression of the Jewish people.

But the 20th century saw more than one genocide and there are genocidal acts happening at this time -- Darfur being the most notable example.

The Armenian Genocide, which has yet to be acknowledged by Turkey, Israel, or the United States predated the Holocaust but led to the death of more than a million Armenians. And the anger still burns within that community.

More recently the world witnessed the Rwandan Genocide that led to the murder of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus but Hutu extremists. That event was given voice in the important movie Hotel Rwanda.

The hardest thing to do if you have been victimized is to forgive those who have victimized you and your family. But that is what is happening as an Armenian priest, Father Vazken Movsesian, and a Rwandan pastor, Benjamin Kayumba, have joined together to preach a message of forgiveness. Both lost relatives in these genocides, and both face communities not yet ready to forgive. But their message is one that should be heard.

They have joined together to hold a forum today at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena. The full story is found today in the LA Times.