There is a saying: To err is human, to forgive divine. Thanks be to God, with forgiveness comes healing and renewal, not just for the one being forgiven, but also for the one doing the forgiving. The question is: Have we forgotten how to forgive?

Forgiveness maintains the sacred unity between Heaven and earth. For us and for our salvation, our Lord came down from Heaven. He took upon Himself the pain, persecution, and injustice within humanity. Through the greatness of His love, He forgave and continues to forgive the transgressions of humankind.

Our Lord shows us through forgiveness that love cannot be destroyed by the sins of the world. Think of Jesus Christ dying on the cross as He said: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” [Luke 23:34]  Christ reached out with forgiveness to accomplish His mission of loving mercy in this world and to rise again in glory in order to raise all who follow His way on earth for eternal life in Heaven.

Harden Not Your Hearts

Therefore, as children of God, we are called to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.” [Colossians 3: 12, 13]

Our Lord forgives us as often as we need forgiving; in return we are asked to do the same. “If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him,” said Jesus to His disciples. [Luke 17: 3, 4]

Our Savior does not give up on us nor should we give up on one another. Through forgiveness, Christ protects our hearts and our world from hardening.  If we lose our ability to forgive, we endanger our ability to love. How else can we prevent anger and hatred from defiling our lives and our world?  As our society becomes more secular, more distant from our Lord and His teachings, are we losing sight of the divine power of forgiveness?

Stop the Spread

The nature of forgiveness within our hearts eradicates the ill will that separates us from God’s love and breaks down the barriers to charity, peace, and hope which our world desperately needs. Reconciliation stops the violent spread of vengeance which tears us apart and pulls us away from Heaven’s embrace. Should we feel the power of forgiveness weakening within us, let us call on Mary, Reconciler of People and Nations.

Our Blessed Mother extends her love to all of us to help us unite with her Son by the power of the Holy Spirit so that we may discover the key to God’s kingdom. That is to love and to forgive one another as faithful children of God. Through loving reconciliation, hope springs eternal and the peace of our Lord lives on in our lives and our world. Amen