FORGIVENESS
It is imperative to physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health to give and receive forgiveness. Today, there is a lot of evidence showing the connection between a lot of psycho-physical illnesses and our inability to forgive.
On a personal note, one of the difficult homilies to preach is forgiveness. Actually, it is so easy to about forgiveness like homilies on love. At the same time difficult to put into practice. This is because sometimes you as the preacher are guilty of what you preached.
OUR THEMES
The readings of this Sunday admonish us to forgive human´s failings against us. First, so as to merit divine forgiveness ourselves from God. Secondly, since we too might have offended others as well. To forgive those who are wrong or hurt is admitting our own human weakness. They remind us also that our desire for vengeance can be a stumbling block to receiving divine mercy or blessings from God. The best of vengeance is to leave all to God, who sees our hearts and intentions.
FIRST READING: SIRACH 27:30-28:7
The author reminds us of several reasons why forgiveness should be indispensable in our lives. First and foremost, human vengeance begets divine vengeance. As well, human forgiveness begets divine forgiveness. Equally, forgiveness brings about answered prayers, healings, mercy and favours from the Lord.
The Book of Sirach 27:30–28:9 is clear on the issues of sin, injustice, hate, anger, enmity, and vengeance as well as lack of forgiveness as the cause of spiritual bankruptcy, heaviness and brokenness. A life short of blissfulness and tenderness as Christians or humans.
Psalm 102, captures the beauty, grace and richness of God´s mercy with us: The Lord is kind and merciful; slow to anger and rich in compassion…. He does not treat us according to our sins nor repay us according to our faults. This is the mercy attitude we pray for today.
SECOND READING ROMANS 14:7-9
St. Paul states one fundamental fact of the Christian life. That is, we belong to Christ, we live to the Lord dead or alive. Christ Jesus is both Lord of the dead and the living. The basic implication of this fact the totality of Christian life is in or with God. This includes the pains, hurts and damage that might have been done to us. Hence, this holistic principle can help us forgive even the most grievous hurts.
For Paul, Jesus of Nazareth is not just God but also Lord. The central message of Paul here is that the goal of our existence or of our living as Christians should be Christ himself.
For Paul in Romans 14:7-9 living or dying we are the Lord´s. hence, not hurting or hating feelings as Christians or humans should be ever taken up against life or to the grave. Christ´s mercy and grace is all we need to forgive and restore all.
THE GOSPEL: MATTHEW 18:21-35:
It is imperative to physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health to give and receive forgiveness. Today, there is a lot of evidence showing the connection between a lot of psycho-physical illnesses and our inability to forgive.
It is the continuation of last Sunday’s gospel. Where Christ proposed healthy steps to Christian reconciliation and fraternal corrections in personal and community living. Today, with Peter´s question and self-answer on the issue of forgiveness. Jesus uses the opportunity to teach further about Christian relationships and forgiveness.
Peter´s discussion with Christ in the Gospel of Matthew 18:21-35 drives home the concrete step towards receiving and giving forgiveness with its benefits and repercussions.
FORGIVENESS leads to freedom of spirit and body, restoration of dignity, and merit divine mercy but however, but lack of forgiveness breeds disharmony of inner peace, guilt, irritation, anger, physical heart pounds and headache: total unhappiness.
MERCY VERSUS MERCILESS
a. Basically we all are indebted to God for our wrongdoings but words, actions, thoughts or omissions.
b. No doubt God forgives us as the psalmist today reminds us unreservedly of our sins.
c. There are people indebted to us too for their conscious or unconscious offence to us.
d. As God forgives us of our numerous sins so too we ought to forgive others.
e. God´s mercy and forgiveness towards us is extravagant, exorbitant and unprecedented.
f. Our mercy and forgiveness not seven times, but seven times seventy of four hundred and ninety times. This implies forgiveness over and over again as countless times as possible or as we can imagine.
g. Yet, how unforgiving we are with each other with a merciless heart.
h. The punch point of Jesus´ parable is the last line of the gospel. “So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you if do not forgive your brother from your heart.”
This leads us to the fundamental question: why is forgiveness so important in Christian life and life in general? Why must I forgive others?
THE SPIRITUAL AND HUMAN ASPECTS OF FORGIVENESS
1. We need to give forgiveness to others in order to receive forgiveness from God
2. Forgiveness is the key to life´s blessings, grace and mercy.
3. The greatest hindrance to our prayer is the lack of forgiveness. “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespassed against us”
4. Forgiveness sets us free from self-imprisonment to bitterness, hatred, depression, anger, unhappiness etc.
5. It is healing and liberation from psycho-physical pains, anguish, and sicknesses like migraines, high blood pressure, ulcers, insomnia, etc.
6. Forgiveness is for our own joy, peace of mind, tranquillity, and sanity more than the offender’s well-being.
IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER ON FORGIVENESS
i. It is not easy to forgive. Forgiveness is gradual and possible.
ii. Forgiveness does not mean forgetfulness because we are human with memory.
iii. Un-forgiveness is natural, normal and human but not divine and Christian-like.
iv. Forgiveness does not mean the offender may be changed repent or even ask forgiveness. It may never have reciprocal responses. We must bear that in mind
v. Yet forgiveness is the pathway to inner and true peace of heart, mind and body.
Finally, there can never be forgiveness without restoration. God forgives us in Christ Jesus and restores us to our sonship. The parable of the Prodigal Son ends in restoration too. This is the most important part of our forgiveness: restoration of the person as we were before things went bad. To give and receive forgiveness means restoration without conditions. Humanly difficult if not impossible yet divinely possible by God´s grace.
OUR CONCLUSION
In life, it is fully human to give and receive forgiveness. Yet, there can be no forgiveness, if there is no restoration to what used to BE, before the crack of human errors and wrongs.
The readings of this Sunday bring us to a very serious theme of our Christian life and practice: FORGIVENESS. IT IS NOT JUST ENOUGH TO SAY I FORGIVE OR PREACH FORGIVENESS: WE MUST LIVE IT OUT CONCRETELY AS THE CENTRE OF OUR HUMAN AND SPIRITUAL EXISTENCE.
OUR PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, it is really hard to forgive, so hard when the hurt is deep and being renewed again and again through justification, insensitivity or pride to hold on to one´s correctness or defence line. Help us with your grace to forgive those who hurt deeply as you did. “Father forgive them for they know what they do. And may the beautiful prayer you taught: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, help us with your mercy and grace to truly forgive from our heart. Amen!
One Comment