24TH SUNDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER 2020
SIRACH 27. 30 – 28.7; ROMANS 14. 7-9; MATTHEW
18. 21-35
Focus: To live is to love, to love is to give and to
give is to forgive; one who does not forgive, does not know how to give and
will not himself receive forgiveness
1. “If my brother sins against me, how often must I
forgive?” This is the question of Peter to Jesus in the gospel, and the same
question is quite valid and relevant, even now, much more than before. It is
because, we are living through times which are so low in the spirit of
forgiveness. Instead, there is so much spirit of anger and impatience, grudge
and resentment, revenge and retaliation, vengeance and vendetta, aggression and
violence.
2. All the more, what is sad and disturbing is that
forbearance, forgiveness and reconciliation are considered as weaknesses and
fury and retaliation are glorified as signs of manliness and courage, and as
safeguards and expressions of self-respect and self-dignity. This spirit is
rampant at every level and aspect of life, be it between individuals, within
the families, between the families, between regions, between languages,
religions, cultures, and countries.
3. It is in this context, the Word of God very clearly
denounces anger and lack of forgiveness and also strongly cautions against the
evil effects of failure to forgive. Anger and unforgiveness are abominable and
detestable in the sight of God, and they fail to obtain the mercy and
forgiveness of God. Those who refuse to forgive others, will stand in the
danger of God’s judgment and condemnation. An unforgiving heart will lose all
its appeal for God’s mercy.
4. It is a contradiction to seek forgiveness from God
while not forgiving others. It is nothing but duplicity of faith, applying
double standards – one for oneself, and the other for the other. In this
context, it is worthwhile to recall the wise words of St Francis de Sales: We
are eager to accuse others even for the slightest mistake, while we are eager
to excuse ourselves even for the greatest blunder; we clamour for justice in
the neighbour’s house while we plead for mercy in our own house; we want to buy
cheap but want to sell dear.
5. The refusal to forgive is in fact not a simple thing
as it may appear to be. It shows the failure of the person on different counts,
such as the emotional, psychological, relational or interpersonal, ethical, and
spiritual. It clearly shows that a person is not able to control and overcome
one’s negative emotions, not able to cultivate and nurture a sane and serene
interior, not able to sustain an adequate equilibrium and maturity, not able to
humble his inflated ego and pride, not able to maintain a healthy and cordial
relationship, not able to be morally sound and sober, and not able to connect
his faith and spirituality to a concrete life of charity and integrity.
6. For any believer, unforgiveness and grudge are
contradictions to his very religious spirit, whatever be the religion; because
no religion or god will advocate violence and harm against others; no true
religion can instigate one against fraternity and charity. If one takes to
retaliation and violence in the name of religion, he has not really understood
his religion, and he is a false religious person.
7. It is so sad and even a disgrace that the so called
faithful adherents of religion or religious life, can live and foster a spirit
and ambience of so much resentment and animosity in the ambits of their
respective places of worship or communities. When will the realization dawn on
the humans that unforgiveness is a heavy weight and as long as one carries it,
he is only pressed down? When will people realise that it is foolish and
inhuman to nurture spirit of hostility and revenge? When will the believers
allow the insight that refusal to forgive ruins one’s own self as well as
others? When will the religious communities become the abodes of a little more
pardon and reconciliation and thus avoid the mockery of their very consecration
and the scandal against their very faith?
Direction: In true forgiveness, there is no question
of how many times should I forgive, because any true forgiveness is prompted
and driven by authentic love and true love is always without measure
No comments:
Post a Comment