On Forgiveness
The readings this weekend focus on forgiveness. The forgiveness required in the scripture readings can be challenging and unsettling.
The reading from Sirach tells us to avoid anger and wrath, and then in the gospel we hear Jesus warn us about what may happen to us if we do not forgive others.
The gospel parable of the unmerciful servant helps us understand how the greatness of God’s mercy challenges and enables us to forgive those who have hurt us. Because as we reflect on how much God has forgiven us, we see how we must also forgive others.
Every one suffers from other people’s choices, either by their inconsideration or their spite. Some of us suffer deeply from the pain caused by others. When people hurt us, we feel real, physical and emotional pain.
The Catechism tells us: “It is not in our power not to feel or to forget an offense, but the heart that offers itself to the Holy Spirit turns injury into compassion and purifies the memory in transforming the hurt into intercession” (CCC 2843).
Forgiveness does not mean reconciliation. (Reconciliation is a restoring of relations.) Forgiving doesn’t mean we have to forgive and forget. Forgiving means to stop wanting revenge or wanting the other person to suffer.
Forgiving means to stop feeling angry, resentful, and bitter.
When we find ourselves fixating on the pain and hurt caused by others, we need to bring this to Jesus. He will give us the grace to look upon the person who has harmed us, with compassion. Jesus will give us the grace to realize the brokenness in the life of those who hurt us. This grace comes from the Holy Spirit as we pray for them. This grace is a powerful movement toward forgiveness.
Jesus tells us to forgive not seven times but seventy-seven times. This shows us what is possible for us with God’s grace. With God’s grace we find that we can not only forgive once, or a handful of times, but an unfathomable number of times.
If we pray for grace and remember the patience and compassion God has shown to us, we will be ready to show the same mercy to others.
True forgiveness is possible through God’s love. God does not remain distant and expect us to forgive by our own strength. He is very near to us and He understands human suffering through the passion of his Son, Jesus.
By sharing in the Eucharist, our Lord’s Body and Blood, we are reconciled with one another and strengthened as we struggle to continue to forgive. God is close to the brokenhearted, He reveals his love to us every day, especially when we bring our troubles to him in prayer.
Deacon Michael Braun