One of the most difficult lessons to learn in life is forgiveness. The only way we can learn it is by practicing it. The theory is quite simple. If we want to live with integrity and holiness, how can we expect God to forgive us our sins if we are not willing to forgive those who sin against us? Forgiveness is fundamental to the life of a Christian as it is only through the forgiveness of his sins in baptism that one can enter into the Christian life.
Forgiveness is the entry point, or better yet, the means to enter into the Christian life. Through the Sacrament of Baptism, we celebrate the forgiveness of a person’s sin and the beginning of his life under the will of God. We are called to forgive the sins of those who hurt us because we have known and experienced God’s forgiveness of our sins through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Why is the forgiveness of sins so important?
When a person sins against another, the one who is sinned against has a fundamental choice to make: Will I let go of this sin by forgiving the person or will I hang on to it and seek revenge or hold resentment against him? The second is clearly not a healthy option as our resentment and anger will ultimately eat us up from within. If we choose badly we actually put ourselves in the filth of sin even more. And what is worse, we are totally culpable for this. We have chosen to wallow in the sin of self-indulgence by not forgiving the person who has sinned against us.
Thus the choice to forgive is the choice of freedom. The choice to forgive not only sets the sinner free to embrace the call to repentance and conversion without resentment and fear of revenge plaguing one’s mind; it also affirms our own freedom to act as Christ has acted towards us. This is a sign that true conversion has really taken root in our lives and that we are serious in following Christ.
Reflection Question:
Do I hold resentment and unforgiveness against anyone? Is it helping me to live a better life?
Lord Jesus, I thank You for the gift of forgiveness and I pray that I will always exercise my freedom to forgive those who sin against me.
St. Thomas of Dover, pray for us.
