We must forgive from our heart

WE MUST FORGIVE FROM OUR HEART

Mt. 18:21-35

One of the most difficult things we have to do in life is to forgive.  If we want to get to heaven this is something we must all learn to do.  Our lives are intertwined with the lives of others, what one person is and does inevitably influences other people.  No matter how well intentioned you are, it is impossible for anyone to get through this life without hurting someone else and being hurt by someone else.

When that happens, how do we react?  We have one of two courses of action.  We can forgive it, try to forget it and leave it behind, or we can turn our hurt into a bundle of resentment and carry it around with us.  Surely, we have enough crosses without adding another one to carry?

Simon Peter had a problem about forgiveness and asked Jesus, “Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me?  As often as seven times?”  Jesus answered, “Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.”  Then he illustrated His point with a parable about a servant who owed his king an astronomical debt.  Because he was unable to pay it, he begged for mercy.  The king graciously wiped out the debt.  Then this servant found a fellow servant who owed him a paltry sum.  He showed him no mercy and had him clapped into prison because he was unable to pay.  When the king heard about this, he revoked his act of mercy and had that unmerciful servant cast into prison.

Jesus closed His teaching on forgiveness by saying, “That is how my Heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.”  The important words are “from your heart”.  Those words are the key to the entire lesson.  Jesus is saying that forgiveness is not some sort of cold, legal transaction where you count the times and keep score.  It is a matter of the heart.  It is not so much something you do as something you are.  Your entire approach to life is not resentment but reconciliation.  When forgiveness flows from the heart, then you are a forgiving person.  How do we bring this about?  In our Gospel reading there are two practical examples.

First, we must remember that God has forgiven us and we will continue to need His forgiveness as long as we live.  This is symbolised by the king who cancelled his servant’s debt.  Jesus is reminding us that our Heavenly Father has forgiven us a debt that we could never possibly pay.  That debt was paid by the cruel Death of His only Son on a Cross.  We need to be reminded of that.  Do we have a rather shallow concept of what it means to be forgiven?  The Cross of Christ tells us that sin is a serious matter with God.  He cares very deeply about the quality of our lives.  Going into the confessional and asking God to forgive us can never be a casual experience.  When we enter the confessional, we should be conscious that it was our sins that crucified Jesus.

True forgiveness always involves an element of pain because it comes from a heart that cares.  That is so true about God.  He cares about us more than anyone else.  When He forgives it is not a light and breezy experience.  You cannot forgive someone you love without paying a price in suffering, and neither can God. That is the reason why the symbol of the cross is at the very centre of our faith.  God has forgiven us a tremendous debt at a tremendous cost to Himself.  If we could appreciate that, we might find ourselves more willing to forgive those who have sinned against us.

The second thing we need to remember is that by failing to forgive we hurt ourselves more than anyone else.  This is what Jesus had in mind when He told us about the unmerciful servant who was cast into prison when he refused to forgive his fellow servant.  Jesus was indicating that an unforgiving spirit creates a prison of its own.  It builds high walls of bitterness and resentment, and there is no escape unless and until we learn to forgive.

You must have met a person whose heart is filled with hatred.  They are prisoners, locked up in their small, selfish and unforgiving heart.  The person we hurt most with our bitterness is not our enemy, but ourselves.  We do ourselves tremendous good when we forgive.  As I said before we have enough problems to handle without carrying around the burden of bitterness.  Make it a rule never to say the words, “I’ll never forgive you.” 

Lord Jesus, life can never be the beautiful experience God our Father intended it to be if we lock ourselves in a little cell of resentment and hatred.  May we heed Your words and learn to forgive our brother from our heart.

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