Forgiveness is really a pillar of Christianity, And Jesus was forgiving. He even did not defend Himself when accused. It's one of the hardest things to be truly forgiving, if one perceives one is wronged greatly. I often think about this subject.
I've been dealing with unforgiveness regarding a person "close" to me. I almost get there ... then resentment bubbles up again. Seem to get it resolved through prayer and recalling Christ's admonitions ... then resentment bubbles up AGAIN. I am being taught how much of human wrong is rooted in PRIDE. Lucifer's core flaw. To not forgive is a product of PRIDE. How dare you have hurt me? let me down? not seen to my needs when I'm there for you? PRIDE. It's understandable to feel hurt or angry, but Christ admonished us to forgive because He does. It was easy for me when younger. Harder as I get older (unsure why). I get perturbed with people who "should know better" ... but why do I presume they "should" know better? And that's also a manifestation of PRIDE, expecting from others what they might be incapable of because it's inconvenient to me. Prayers for the people of Palestine and Israel.
That's profound and I think I read in the last two weeks how, yes, it was rooted in PRIDE but you state it eloquently.
Yes DS7.... PRIDE is definitely at the root of my most serious sins and if I stopped think about and to analyze the rest of them(which I dont want to do) ...I bet it would be at the root of the most minor infractions that I have ever committed as well As for forgiveness.... I found that if you just say to yourself I FORGIVE, even tho you dont FEEL that way( I did that on advice from a priest)... sooner or later your feelings will change! By doing so, you will follow what Jesus said we must do..forgive....and once we do... Jesus will change your heart and not only will you feel forgiveness towards the "offender" but you will also feel love for that person and even pray for them!! Ahh ...the relief from not having to walk around carrying that heavy, heavy weight of resentment and bitterness is AWESOME!! God is GOOD!!!
Did you notice one or two people gave their forgiveness totally and without any reservations? This too in a time of war and killings? They did not say, 'I will forgive if the Israeli's do this that or the other'. They just forgave totally and without reservation and at once. This to me is sign of real holiness. I was talking to an Orthodox Jewish friend, Avram in Jerusalem one time and he said to me that this was the one thing in Christianity he envies. This call to forgive. He said that the Torah teaches an eye for and eye. That there is no notion of forgiveness. The most powerful prayer of all is the prayer for our enemies, because it is totally unselfish. It shakes the heavens.
I forgive more easily than asking for forgiveness esp when while I might have done wrong, I view the reaction to my wrong even more wrong. I am struggling mightily with this right now. My priest has told me to apologize without requiring an I’m sorry also from the person. It’s very very difficult
I've been thinking about this lately. Did I forgive or just try to forget? Those are two important questions. So, I had to face a stark reality on forgiveness. Would you be willing to suffer on earth or spend extra time in purgatory to forgive someone that they might not have to suffer for those sins? And perhaps, they were not sinning against you but you perceived it to be so. I would answer, Yes! I would suffer for them. That would be real forgiveness. I take the example of St.Therese and other saints who suffered, and martyrs who died for others. They took it upon themselves to suffer for someone else, either known to them or unknown to them. It's something to ponder.
I remember Fr Ripperger saying that you must not rely on emotions to know if you have forgiven. You make an act of the will and pray for their happiness in this world and the next.
Most times I’m more willing to forgive and suffer for someone else if they would just leave me alone so I no longer have contact with them
One thing I have noticed about forgiveness is that it is not a once only kind of thing, but you have to give forgiveness over and over and over again. It is a constant process. One thing I am a little bit jealous of some the worst people I forgive is that they tend to be the luckiest people in the world in that I pray and pray and pray for them even for many , many years. So they are probably the best prayed for people on the planet. A Desert Father said, 'Rain fires of coal on the Heads of your Enemies!' By fires of coal he meant the fires of Charity and the greatest form of Charity is prayer. I get a lot of dreams about the war here the last few years. They bring back a lot of trauma. But I find them a comfort. Yes I hurt other people and hurt them badly, but they did a lot of hurt to me too. Not that I am using this as an excuse but it least it wasn't all random. Just as forgiveness can be a life time process , the healing of self, the forgiveness of self can be a life time process too.
At the hospital, when I visit the dying I gently probe about hurts and resentment; unforgiveness is a horrible weapon for the devil at the end. If the person is Christian, I try to lead them to let go of those hurts. If they're Catholic and a priest is on the way, I encourage them to bring it all to the Font of Mercy: confession. Praise God for the Cross of Christ!
I find it hard to forgive someone that has no intention of trying to change their offensive behavior. You can forgive them and start anew, but they will be right back at it without thinking they have to try. I find it troubling. Jesus clearly tells us to forgive not 7 times but 77 times, but he also said to shake the dust from your sandals when dealing with those who do not want to listen to the truth. Do we forgive and walk away and not deal with these people anymore, what if it a relative or even your spouse? Its not healthy mentally to surround yourself with people like that
Well you have more experience with the dying than I have had Terry. But from what I have read about the death agony and the period leading up to it is that the devil tempts souls with a lot of negative ideas so to cause it to despair. To doubt God's forgiveness and to be unable to forgive itself. To despair in other words. There is just no getting into heaven without forgiveness , it's a must.
Some things and people you can walk away from, some you can not. But if it is possible to walk away from something or someone that is hurting me without doing harm I would be away like a shot.
I have great sympathy for you, soldier. One thing I can't run away from is the prayer: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us!
Thats what keeps me going. God is good to me, if dealing with these people are the cross I must bear than so be it, I just pray God gives me the strength or forgives me when I am weak
