Forgiveness

   “And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’” (Luke 23: 34)

   Our Lord’s teachings on forgiveness are perhaps some of the most difficult to live out in our lives.  When someone hurts us our natural reaction is to strike back, harm them as we feel they’ve harmed us.  But if we are truly following Jesus that can’t be our response.  We must forgive them.

   Think of the one person who has hurt you the most.  Of all the people you’ve known this is the one you wish you had never met.  Everything they did was hateful and full of spite.  Now imagine that this person is the first to greet you in heaven.  This is the teaching of Christ, “for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.” (John 12: 47).

   As hard as it is to forgive those who hurt us it is sometimes harder to forgive ourselves for our failings and sinfulness.  We can’t imagine that God would forgive us for what we’ve done.  I believe this reaction is due, in large part, to the fact that we can’t or won’t forgive others.  If they don’t deserve our forgiveness how can we deserve the forgiveness of God?

   The truth is we don’t deserve His forgiveness, but He forgives us anyway because He loves us.  We must try to see those who harm us as God sees them, weak human beings stained by original sin, but also His children whom He loves.  We may not think they deserve our forgiveness, but we must give it anyway.  If not, we have failed as Christians.  Jesus said, “If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespass.” (Matt 6: 14 – 15).  Clearly if we don’t forgive others we will not be forgiven.

Teach us Your mercy Lord.

Help us forgive those who hurt us.

They too are Your children.

They, like we, need forgiveness.

Amen