There is another aspect of the mechanics of forgiveness that I’ve not previously considered. It appears to me, that of the examples in the Gospels (and even in the OT) of forgiveness being carried out, that there is an assumption of both an ongoing relationship that is damaged, and that the intent is for that relationship to continue because it is valued.

Thus, forgiveness appears to be something that ought to be balanced within the context of a relationship. What happens when there is no longer a relationship? How does one forgive when the other party – the aggrieving party – is no longer a part of the picture? Again, I have no answer to this – but it is something that is very much a part of our daily life – it happens. Can there be forgiveness if there is no longer a relationship?

What if there was never a “relationship” in the first place but merely a glancing encounter?

Perhaps (and again I’ve not fully considered this) the only model available to us is Jesus’ instruction to the 72 when he sent them out – if they found that the inhabitants of a place chose not to have a relationship with them then they were to leave, and brush the dust from their feet – literally to walk away and to not allow the “other” to have any negative power over them.