“As We Also Forgive Our Debtors”
1. When we ask God to
forgive us, we promise to forgive those who have offended us. Unless we
are to be guilty of deception, therefore, we must pardon them. If we
refuse to forgive, God will not forgive us. Jesus tells us in the Gospel
to pardon offences not seven times, but seventy times seven. (Cf. Mt.
18:22) In other words, we must always be prepared to forgive. He tells
us to return good for evil and to turn the other cheek when someone
strikes us.
Not alone did Jesus command us to do this, but He
also set us an example. While He was suffering fearful torments on the
Cross and was surrounded by jeering enemies, He turned to His heavenly
Father and uttered those sublime words: “Father, forgive them, for they
do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:24)
How could we gaze
at the Crucifix and dare to refuse forgiveness to anyone? No matter how
grave may seem the injuries done to us by our neighbour, let us remember
that they are insignificant in comparison with the insults which we
have dared to offer to the infinite majesty of our Creator. They are as
the hundred denarii compared with the ten thousand talents of Christ’s
parable. (Mt. 18:24-28)
If we wish to receive God’s pardon,
therefore, let us be prepared to forgive. Let our forgiveness be
sincere, however, and not a mere formal token. The forgiveness freely
granted by a heart scourged by the injuries of others is a pleasing
sacrifice offered to God.
2. “If thou art offering thy gift at
the altar,” Jesus tells us, “and thou rememberest that thy brother has
anything against thee, leave thy gift before the altar and go first to
be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” (Mt.
5:23-24) Prayer is futile, therefore, unless we have first forgiven our
enemies.
“Learn from me,” Jesus said when He proposed Himself as a
model to be imitated, “for I am meek and humble of heart.” Then, He
added, “you will find rest for your souls.” (Cf. Mt. 11:29) How true
this is. The foundation of our hatred, anger, and resentment is always
our wounded pride. We need Christlike gentleness and humility if we are
to forgive sincerely and generously. Only when we have this gentleness
and humility, moreover, shall we find joy in forgiving, and only then
shall we have peace. As long as there is room in our hearts for pride
and hatred, we can never enjoy peace of soul.
3. Some people hold
that it is base and low-spirited to forgive easily, whereas a keen
sense of honour demands revenge. Nothing could be more false. Even
animals seek revenge. The true greatness of human nature lies in its
ability to conquer the lower instincts. “It is far more difficult,”
wrote a famous historian of antiquity, “to overcome oneself than to
defeat one’s enemy in battle.” (Val. Max., L, 4) Forgiveness requires a
victory over pride and sensitivity and is therefore a high act of human
value.
When we forgive, we do not abase ourselves before the man
who has offended us, but we raise ourselves above him by our nobility
and generosity. By behaving in this manner we display our self-control,
inspire sentiments of respect and benevolence, and may even bring about a
reconciliation and a renewal of friendship.
So let us make a few
good resolutions. (1) Remembering how Jesus prayed for His
executioners, let us always be generous in pardoning others. (2) Let us
do good to those who have offended us, adopting the motto of St. Paul:
“Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom. 12:21) (3)
When the injury which we have received disturbs us greatly and causes
us to lose our peace of mind, let us remain silent and procrastinate.
“Delay is the best cure for anger,” wrote Seneca, who also very truly
observed that whenever we have been angry with others we end by being
angry with ourselves.
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