We’re asking our Father forgiveness – for our trespasses, our sins. But then we ask this is as we forgive those who trespass against us.
This means a lot of things.
We’re asking forgiveness to the same degree as we forgive others. Maybe we should think that there’s some kind of accounting: if I haven’t forgiven five times today, then maybe I’m not worthy to receive God’s grace the five times I need it.
I have to get to forgiving!
Another way to look at it is that we receive forgiveness in the same way that we forgive our neighbor. When I respond to an offense by avoiding any kind of injury or insult, then it’s right that God treats me with that same understanding.
And I’m also asking for forgiveness for the sins I commit. If I forgave someone who insulted me, then maybe I’m worthy of being forgiven when I’m the offending jerk.
I’ve learned that the sins I feel most injured by are those same ones that I tend to fall into the most. So there’s a certain kind of appropriateness to this.
So forgive me, God. But I’ll remind myself that I’m accountable for my own actions every day.