LET'S FORGIVE EACH OTHER
(Matthew 18:21-35)
We offend people often knowingly
and unknowingly. People offend us regularly. What do we do about this
situation? Live with the hurt? Hold it against them? Look for opportunity to
strike back? Have our pound of flesh? What about those we offend? Are we going
to be comfortable if they give it back to us and insist on keeping malice with
us?
Peter must have experienced a lot
of cases on forgiveness. People may have abused his forgiving spirit? People
may have taken him for a ride because he forgives. He is getting tired
forgiving. He has taken the decision not to forgive again. Enough is enough. He
has started looking foolish and stupid because of his letting go mentality. He
wants to close the door of his heart. Thus, he asks Jesus how many times he
should forgive. Jesus replied: Not seven times but seventy times seven times.
Peter's suggestion of seven implies that he must have forgiven someone about
six or seven times and wants to stop forgiving.
Don't stop forgiving; Let's not
stop forgiving each other. Forgiveness is healing. It makes our society a
peaceful one. It creates room for progress.
When you bear grudge against the other it affects the way you see him.
You will never see good in that person. The person's fortune means misfortune
for you. You may even wish him dead. Unforgiving spirit gives birth to numerous
other sins. It can lead to killing, defamation of character etc. It steals your
joy and leaves you sad, thereby giving you an experience of hell while on
earth.
"If you do not
forgive..." Says the Lord, a lot may follow. If you do not forgive that
your wife your life will be filled with sorrows. If you do not forgive your
husband your peace will certainly be farfetched. If you do not forgive that
your son, daughter, colleague, worker, superior the pain will stay on with you.
Forgive and have your peace. Forgive and give the other peace.
It is not easy to forgive. It is
very difficult. But it is more difficult to live with unforgiveness. You may
cry before forgiving. Cry than die without forgiving. Say it. Speak it out.
Those words are very powerful. Just three words: I forgive you. If you have not
heard it especially from someone you think will never forgive you, you will not
understand. Don't say it because the other deserves it. Say it and mean it
because you want your peace of soul and your peace with God.
May God help us to forgive daily
and be forgiven often by God whom we offend now and again.
LET US PRAY
O God, You know too well how
difficult it is to forgive. But since You said I must forgive and You have
taught me how to forgive, by Your grace may l forgive all those who have
offended me. May I not get tired in forgiving through Christ our Lord. Amen
God bless Your Tuesday (3rd Week
of Lent)
Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh
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