There are those in our world today, like Zacchaeus, who deserve judgment, but when we encounter a story like that of Jesus and Zacchaeus, we realize we, too, deserve judgment and did not deserve grace.
One of the first lessons Christians are taught is how God forgives our shortcomings. Still, even though God wipes away our sins, many Christians can struggle with forgiving themselves.
One place which has sheltered those fleeing already is one of the oldest Christian monasteries in existence: St Matthews (Mar Mattai), built in 363AD, halfway between Kurdish-held territories and IS-controlled lands, some 40km east of Mosul.
The shooting 10 years ago in a placid Lancaster County hamlet made headlines across the world as the Amish rushed to forgive the shooter. But the grief and pain live on.
Forgiveness is one of the central tenets of the Christian faith. Most of us grew up on Sunday school lessons which encouraged us to forgive others and seek God’s forgiveness in turn.