The Miracle Of Forgiveness
"Forgive as the Lord has forgiven you." —Colossians 3:13
The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls this appeal “astonishing and daunting” (CCC, 2838, 2840).
We all know people who are suffering with relationships. Problems arise, and we find it difficult to forgive. We have each felt hurt by someone who has sinned against us, but is it really sin – or insensitivity? Remember, we sin when we judge the motives and character of others. Discontent can be found in our family members, people in the work place, school, church, or generally anywhere we go. The experience of this pain can be personal, with people we know and love, or an unexpected encounter with a stranger. The wound may be physical, emotion, or spiritual, regardless; the culprit can be traced to human weakness … the inability to forgive. Resentment and bitterness are like poison to our health, and the decision to accept God’s grace is the only way to be freed of this toxicity.
Jesus insists on forgiveness. He emphasizes that, in God’s kingdom, those unable to forgive are handed over to torturers (Mt. 18: 34). But the torturers are not people—they are emotions like fear, depression, frustration, self-hatred and loneliness. This isolation and negativity can cause more damage in our lives than any disease, and it is exactly what makes us sick. If you grasp the message in the Gospel of Matthew, it will certainly become easier to overlook the cruelty of others. Exonerating someone who has sinned against you is difficult, and no one is exempt from the sting of being treated with thoughtlessness. “To err is human, to forgive is divine.” God’s grace is available to us – only He can forgive, because it is impossible to do it on our own! We typically center on forgiveness during the Lenten Season where we witness the Passion of Christ. Jesus hung dying on the cross asking the Father to forgive his persecutors.
On Sunday Nov. 29, we enter the season of Advent, which is the beginning of the new Church liturgical year. While preparing for this season of hope, if there is a relationship that needs mending in your life, please begin the healing with love. This invitation is extended without expectation, because we cannot control the emotions of others, only our own. Releasing resentment and anger will change your life and make you a happier person. Jesus empowered us with the Lord’s Prayer. “This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father which art in heaven” –Matthew 6:9. God’s best gift to us is His peace. The birth of Christ is the birth of peace for the Church. The act of forgiveness is an opportunity for evangelization. When others observe peace in you, they witness the joy of the Gospel.
Take advantage of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Pope Francis said that confession is an encounter with Jesus, whose "mercy motivates us to do better...God is happy when he gives us his mercy." The responsorial Psalm for the First Sunday of Advent is from Psalm 25: “To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. He guides the humble to justice, and teaches the humble his way.” Pray for God’s mercy, and remember, justice is in the hands of God. In Romans 12:19 we read: Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” During the four weeks of Advent, ask the Father in Heaven to help you with forgiveness, because much like the birth of the Baby Jesus, it is a miracle. Amen!
