A REQUEST AND RECOMMENDATION OF JESUS.
One of the difficult thing that we face in our spiritual life is to FORGIVE. To forgive ourselves and to forgive others. Why? because we feel deeply wounded, hurt, humiliated, abandoned and cast out. Even very thought of some people makes us to boil up with anger. 'Even if I die, I won't forgive that person', or 'whatever the reason you give i will not forgive that person', these and similar other phrases often jumps out from our heart, mind and mouth. Really one of the hardest thing that we ever feel to do is to FORGIVE.
WHY CAN'T I FORGIVE OTHERS? Ask the question again and write down the answers. In every action, there are two factors involved: one is by mistake and another by purpose. In other words, it just happened, or unintentional, of deliberately done or intentional. Most of the time we are unable to forgive because we think that they have done it purposely. Purposely they hurt us, humiliate us, purposely they wanted to put us down, cast us out. Always we think that it is done deliberately. So, we are not able to forgive others for what they have done or said. Truly this is our misunderstanding. Many of us may not believe this.Even if some one has done something to us purposely truly it is not. Mmm... it looks absurd, is it not? No, it is not. Do we remember, 'Even the hairs of your head have been numbered,' (Lk. 12:7) 'not a hair of your head will perish' (Lk. 21:18) 'are you not worth more than a flock of sparrows?' (Lk. 12:7) If God considers the lilies of the field so much, how much more will he care for us? when he cares for us so much do we think that when others hurt us, humiliate us, or harm us God did not know all these things?
Nothing happens in our lives without the knowledge of God. Still if we remember, we read in the Bible, in the book of Job, that Satan asks permission from God to test Job. Each time it is granted only certain things to do. And Satan did not do more than what was allowed for him to do. So, nothing more will happen to us without the knowledge of God. Whether it's a hurt, humiliation, or harm, it just comes from God. we may think that we are blaming God for our mistakes. Mmm... may be, but for me even that happens for a purpose. We might have done something wrong because of our wrong choice and by the misuse of our freedom but if we turn back to God, that will become a blessing. Adam and Eve made a wrong choice, misused their freedom but they did not accept it or turn back to God, but blamed each other, as a result got the curse for all eternity. Even in that situation the Mercy of God is outstanding. So, let's always remember that everything comes from God. If we accept and surrender those things to God surely we will be healed and be able to forgive others.
Let's take a concrete example from the life of Jesus. Tell me the truth, DID JEWS KILLED JESUS BY MISTAKE OR UNINTENTIONALLY? Do we believe that the crucifixion of Jesus is just happened like that? No, we know that. It was intentionally, deliberately, purposely, preplanned murder. They killed him by asking 'crucify him' which was not the capital punishment of the Jews but of the pagan Romans. The capital punishment in Jewish custom is stoning to death. Crucifixion is the way Romans kill the slaves and criminals. Even among the Romans, if the criminal is a Roman citizen they won't crucify him but behead the criminal and that's why St. Paul as a Roman citizen not crucified to death but beheaded. Just they wanted to kill Jesus to be so much humiliated even at his death by crucifixion. So, the death of Jesus is very well planned and executed, right?
But listen to the prayer of Jesus on the Cross, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do." (Lk. 23:34) What a contradiction? They killed him intentionally, fully planned and He is praying that they do not know what they do. ha... But for sure, it's not contradiction. They really do not know who really Jesus was. St. Paul confirms that saying, "No ruler of this world ever knew this; otherwise they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory." (1Cor. 2:8) And St. Peter in his preaching on the day of Pentecost says the same thing that Jews killed Jesus because of ignorance, without knowing who Jesus was, "Yet I know that you acted out of ignorance, as did your leaders." (Acts 3:17) So, hope now it's clear that Jesus' prayer to forgive them for their ignorance is not a contradiction even they killed him intentionally.
By his exemplary prayer on the Cross, Jesus teaches the simple way how to forgive others. Interpreting this event Servant of God Bishop Fulton Sheen would say that the only reason Jesus teaches us to forgive others unconditionally is IGNORANCE. FORGIVE THEM; THEY DO NOT KNOW. They do not know what they are doing. Whoever it may be the person and whatever they may do to us, just FORGIVE THEM; THEY DO NOT KNOW. Yes, they do not know who they are, what they are, as an image of God redeemed by the blood of Christ. They do not know who you are, what you are, as a child of god created in his own image and likeness and redeemed by Christ. We may argue, 'No, they did not act in ignorance, they deliberately did it to me.' Just remember Jesus, neither the Jews did it out of ignorance, they planned and executed, but Jesus still prays for them that they do not know. If we claim ourselves as true Christians, following Christ, are we not obliged do as Jesus taught us to do?
The Prayer of Jesus: FORGIVE THEM; THEY DO NOT KNOW, is a Request and at the same time Recommendation. It is a request when he prays to the Father. The same prayer when he says to us it becomes a recommendation. Very clearly Jesus recommended this already when he taught us to pray in the Our Father prayer. 'Forgive us - as we forgive.' It's obvious. Further he emphasizes by repeating, "If you forgive others their wrongs, your Father in heaven will also forgive yours. If you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive you either." (Mt. 6:14-15) Though Jesus already prayed to the father 'forgive us - as we forgive,' after finishing the prayer Jesus repeats the importance of forgiveness - the only condition to receive forgiveness. From the Old Testament time this concept remains the same. In the book of Sirach God the Father asks, "He who demands revenge will suffer the vengeance of the Lord who keeps a strict account of his sins. Forgive the mistakes of your neighbor and you may ask that your sins be forgiven. If a man bears resentment against another, how can he ask God for healing? If he has no compassion on others, how can he pray for forgiveness for his sins? As long as he, mere flesh, is resentful, who will obtain his pardon?" (Sirach 28:1-5) Further it says, "Remember your end and give up the hatred" For any other things there is no condition, but for forgiveness there is condition. FORGIVE TO BE FORGIVEN.
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| Pope John Paul II visits the prison and forgives the one who shot him |
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| Pope Benedict XVI visits his butler who leaked his confidential letters |
Let's forgive for they do not know, let's forgive that our sins may be forgiven. As I heard from the Recollection talk of Fr. Jesus M. OAD, by forgiving we do more good to ourselves than anyone else. By anger, hatred, resentment and unforgiveness, physically, psychologically and spiritually we bring more harm to ourselves than anyone else hurt, humiliate and harm us. None of us ever experienced more hurt, humiliation and cruelty than Jesus Himself. We have two great examples before us, Pope John Paul II, and Pope Benedict XVI. They have forgiven their traitor and shooter. Are we much more holy and greater than these people?
"I will forgive their sins and no longer remember their wrongs." (Hebrews 8:12)
"As the Lord has forgiven you, forgive one another. (Colossians 3:13)
