October 1, 2006 Sermon – Rev. Kathleen Ellis: Pardon Me!

Podcasts – Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church

Rev. Kathleen Ellis: Pardon Me!: This evening marks the conclusion of Jewish High Holy Days, a period of atonement. In Judaism, if someone causes you harm, but sincerely apologizes and tries to make amends, you are religiously obligated to forgive. Without this apology, there is no such obligation. Today is the day to ask forgiveness of G-d for offenses against G-d, but G-d cannot forgive harm done to another person without that apology. Other religions have a different approach to forgiveness. Buddhists see forgiveness as a way to keep painful emotions from damaging your own mental health. Do you need to forgive someone? Do you need to forgive yourself? [24:38]