There seems to me to be a matter of great significance in coming back from my sabbatical and having our Homecoming Service (and Water Communion) on September 20th, 2026. For you see, on September 20th, beginning at sundown, is the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Day of Yom Kippur. It is the Day of Atonement (at-one-ment), where we must ask for forgiveness for the mistakes we have committed against our neighbor and ourselves. For what is forgiveness to anyone if we cannot forgive ourselves? All genuine spiritual paths speak of the importance of forgiveness. It is the moment where the vertical meets the horizontal. 

Our culture stresses the vertical relationship with “God” or the Divine, but seems to somehow omit or even forget the horizontal relationship with our neighbors and the earth. Curious, isn’t it? We all seek forgiveness, and it is indeed wonderful when it happens, when the person accepts our apology. But deep within, I know that this is not the end of the matter. Perhaps you do too. Somehow, I must reconcile with the highest standard within me, my own inner principles of how I want to live my life, and I must also become reconciled with the Universe, for there are what are sometimes referred to as “Universal Laws.” 

And so the genius of this holiday reminds me over and over again that I must be reconciled with myself, with my neighbor, and with whatever I believe “God” is. Then and only then can I go on with my life and be at one with myself and the world around me. Then there is no conflict between my inner and my outer. Yom Kippur. Mark it, and use the day well.

Since Jesus spoke Aramaic, and in the season and the spirit of forgiveness, which is what Yom Kippur is all about, allow me to introduce another, perhaps a bit more accurate translation of The Lord’s Prayer regarding “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” 

You may have heard it read or spoken this way–“Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

One translation of the Aramaic that I find hauntingly beautiful is this one:

“Loose the cords of mistakes binding us, as we release the strands we hold of others’ guilt.

Forgive our hidden past, the secret shames, as we consistently forgive what others hide.

Lighten our load of secret debts as we relieve others of their need to repay.

Erase the inner marks our failures make, just as we scrub our hearts of others’ faults.

Absorb our frustrated hopes and dreams, as we embrace those of others with emptiness. 

Untangle the knots within so that we can mend our hearts’ simple ties to others.

Compost our inner stolen fruit, as we forgive others the spoils of their trespassing.

Loose the cords of mistakes binding us, as we release the strands we hold of others’ guilt.”