Sep
29
2005
0
By Anonymous (not verified)
This is part two of a three-part series on forgiveness, and I want you to reflect on how many times God has forgiven each one of us. We discussed earlier that the image of Divine Mercy symbolizes the Sacraments of Baptism and Reconciliation. The great Sacrament of Reconciliation is not to be looked on as a punishment, a time for scolding and flagellation, but rather as a vehicle for great healing. God is always there, ready to forgive. There are no limits to His mercy! Our Lord told St. Faustina, "Apostle of My mercy, proclaim to the whole world My unfathomable mercy" (Diary, 1142). His mercy is so great that we will never be able to comprehend it; it is like an ocean that has no bottom. All we have to do is trust in Him and float in the great ocean of mercy. We must float and not try to swim against the current of God's Will; rather, we must lay back and let the current take us where God wants us to go. And in the calm of the water, we must try to forgive others, becoming an icon of Jesus reflected off the glassy flat surface in the unfathomable ocean of mercy.
Yet, forgiveness is so difficult after someone has hurt us! St. Faustina wrote, "He who knows how to forgive prepares for himself many graces from God. As often as I look upon the cross, so often will I forgive with all my heart" (Diary, 390). And yet, the pain we all carry from injury can be like an open wound, festering with infection for years. Many of us carry anger and guilt for years, never resolving the situation internally. We seldom forgive and rarely forget, and yet we pray for God to forgive us as we forgive others. Even if the person who hurt us has no remorse, the one injured who harbors anger is the one bound in chains. It is by letting go of the anger and asking God for the grace of forgiveness that the chains are broken, thus setting one free. Sometimes it takes the support of a Christian community to help untie the wrappings that bind us. By forgiving others, we are like Lazarus raised from the dead, alive but still needing help from those around us to unbind us and release the wrappings so we are truly free. And, the support system of a loving group of committed Christians will help keep us on the path of righteousness.
St. Faustina wrote, "We resemble God most when we forgive our neighbors" (Diary, 1148). Forgiveness means more than avoiding interaction with those who have hurt us! It may not be wise to try to restore a friendship with someone who has seriously wronged you, lest you expose yourself to further harm or abuse. Even if you have to stay away from the person that hurt you, you still have to let go of anger and forgive. Scripture is clear that as our Heavenly Father loves us, we are to love others.
Forgiveness is easier if we can avoid being judgmental. We should not be like the Pharisees, who saw serious faults in others but not in themselves. If only we could be as demanding of ourselves as we are of others! We are all so quick to criticize, condemn, and judge.
My prayer for you today is that God will grant you the grace of forgiveness; that those areas in your wounded heart may heal, and that you can love others and yourself as much as Jesus loves you!
Yet, forgiveness is so difficult after someone has hurt us! St. Faustina wrote, "He who knows how to forgive prepares for himself many graces from God. As often as I look upon the cross, so often will I forgive with all my heart" (Diary, 390). And yet, the pain we all carry from injury can be like an open wound, festering with infection for years. Many of us carry anger and guilt for years, never resolving the situation internally. We seldom forgive and rarely forget, and yet we pray for God to forgive us as we forgive others. Even if the person who hurt us has no remorse, the one injured who harbors anger is the one bound in chains. It is by letting go of the anger and asking God for the grace of forgiveness that the chains are broken, thus setting one free. Sometimes it takes the support of a Christian community to help untie the wrappings that bind us. By forgiving others, we are like Lazarus raised from the dead, alive but still needing help from those around us to unbind us and release the wrappings so we are truly free. And, the support system of a loving group of committed Christians will help keep us on the path of righteousness.
St. Faustina wrote, "We resemble God most when we forgive our neighbors" (Diary, 1148). Forgiveness means more than avoiding interaction with those who have hurt us! It may not be wise to try to restore a friendship with someone who has seriously wronged you, lest you expose yourself to further harm or abuse. Even if you have to stay away from the person that hurt you, you still have to let go of anger and forgive. Scripture is clear that as our Heavenly Father loves us, we are to love others.
Forgiveness is easier if we can avoid being judgmental. We should not be like the Pharisees, who saw serious faults in others but not in themselves. If only we could be as demanding of ourselves as we are of others! We are all so quick to criticize, condemn, and judge.
My prayer for you today is that God will grant you the grace of forgiveness; that those areas in your wounded heart may heal, and that you can love others and yourself as much as Jesus loves you!
