Oct 30 Wed
We must always forgive.
It was in Capharnaum. At one point Peter asked: “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
The strict interpretation given by the doctors of the Law was that one had to forgive just three times. Peter, suggested a higher figure. Jesus looked at him and gently opened up to him unsuspected horizons: “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven."
The Master's teaching is clear: Forgiving the offenses of others has to be a characteristic of all those who wish to model their lives on the Gospel. We should forgive right away, and from the bottom of our hearts, anyone who has tried to do us harm.
We must always forgive, in small things and in great, without bitterness or resentment, knowing that this is how He will forgive our offenses, just as we pray many times a day in the Our Father. On all occasions, this has to be our spirit. A person who harbors grudges, can't achieve anything in life. Every day we must be able to say, not in word or speech but in deeds and in truth: forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Yet forgiveness doesn't mean turning a blind eye to manifestly unjust situations, above all when this form of tolerance could become an abuse by condoning something that could be a danger to other children of God.
As well as with his words, St. Josemaría also taught us by his example to be generous in forgiving: “At Mass, I remember to pray, not only for my children, for my parents, and for my children's parents, but also for those people still living who wish us harm, as well as those who slandered us in the past and who have since gone to render their account to God. I say: ‘Lord, I forgive them so that You too will forgive them, and will forgive us our sins. I offer the same prayers to You for the repose of their souls, as I offer for all. The very same!’"
“Our Lord is very pleased with this, and it makes me very happy too. I recommend you to do the same: don't ever wish anybody evil. Holding grudges against people only leads to unhappiness. And why on earth should we choose to be unhappy if we are children of God? We have to learn to forgive."
“Then, if someone tells you that that is heroic, you can laugh. It's something wonderful. Doesn't our Lord forgive us when we offend him? So why shouldn't we forgive too? And afterward, if it is appropriate, you can still call things by their names: a lie is a lie, and libel is still libel, and defamation is still defamation, and envy is still envy. But always forgive, from the very start. If you do so, you will be happy."
Video: