Today, we end our Gospel with Lk15:10...."In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents." This verse was an immediate reminder of a time when I desperately was trying to forgive someone that I considered downright evil. I knew that forgiveness of his behavior was not necessary, but forgiveness of him as a child of God and one whom God loves, was necessary. I understood that God did not condone his actions but that God's love is unconditional and so must be mine ("forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us"). But when I read the verse above, I knew that I could not stand the thought of this person in heaven, even as a repentant sinner, with the angels rejoicing! He did not deserve it! It was this verse that opened my eyes to my need to forgive and the fact that such forgiveness would have to be supernatural. I could not do it on my own. I knew the situation was not hopeless because with the help of the Holy Spirit, forgiveness of any person is attainable. I cried. I prayed and begged for help because it seemed that whenever I was close to forgiveness, memories would be triggered and once again, the anger and frustration and hatred that I once held onto "in righteousness," filled my heart and soul.
Jesus Christ is the perfect model of forgiveness and hope. Do we remember the words of Jesus in the agony of the garden? He begged his (our) Heavenly Father to reconsider what was about to happen, to find a way that would lead to salvation where he did not need to suffer the humiliation, the pain and horror of crucifixion. Nevertheless, Jesus was willing to do the will of his Father because he was our model of HOPE. He trusted that he would be with his Father in heaven and that his actions would bring hope to his disciples, as well as teach us how to hope...by praying for help from our Father in heaven. Hanging on the cross, Christ was the epitome of forgiveness of others. He demonstrated that we (I) must forgive the person, not the behavior.
Once I stopped trying to forgive on my own and prayed for help, my heart was flooded with strength from the Holy Spirit. Forgiveness is truly possible if we truly want to forgive and if we ask for God's help.
If we are to live our lives in gratitude for all that we have been given from God, we must first forgive our neighbor (or our selves). If we reserve a part of our mind, heart and soul to be filled with "righteous" anger or unforgiveness, we will have less room in our hearts for thankfulness, not to mention the love and joy that we are meant to have from God. Unforgiveness is often responsible for the inability to have and develop the attributes that we desire....kindness, patience, faithfulness, love, joy and peace.
Father, we thank you for loving us so much that you gave us your Son, Jesus Christ, to show us the way. We know that you are always with us and ready to answer our prayers when we pray for the ability to change our ways, to change our hearts, and request your help to forgive others and ask for understanding, patience and love. Help us to examine our hearts and minds so that we will know ourselves as you know us, to forgive others as you forgive us. Help us to love ourselves and to love those whom have hurt us as we love ourselves. Amen. (Respectfully written for Michele by Jan)
Lk 22:42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done."
Eph 4:32 "And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in
Christ."
Phil 4:6 "Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, make your requests know to
God."
1 John 5:14 "And we have this confidence in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears
us."
No comments:
Post a Comment