Forgive and move on

THIS is what we should do if ever we become a victim of

some offense by someone. We should be quick to forgive and then move

on, focused on doing what we are supposed to do. We should avoid

getting stuck with the offense, wallowing in anguish, complaints and

hatred, and keeping resentments, grudges and desires for revenge.

  

            Let’s remember that all of us have sins that need to be

forgiven also. And as Christ said it clearly, we can only be forgiven

if we also forgive others. “If you will forgive men their offenses,

your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offenses,” he said.

“But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you

your offenses.” (Mt 6,14-15)

   

            Other relevant gospel passages are the following:

“Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone,

forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your

trespasses.” (Mk 11,25) “Judge not, and you shall not be judged.

Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be

forgiven.” (Lk 6,37)

  

            We have to develop the proper attitude in this particular

issue because, truth to tell, we cannot avoid being offended by others

just as neither can we avoid offending others also. That’s part of our

human condition here on earth.

  

            We have to have compassion and mercy for everyone, not

condemnation. We have to have desires for redemption of the offender,

the lost sheep, and not rejection. This was what Christ has taught and

shown us.

  

            While we may have to sort out things through the

requirements of justice, may it be that our concern for justice does

not undermine in any way our charity, our compassion for those who

have offended us.

             It would be better to suffer losses, defeats,

misunderstanding, etc., than to lose charity and compassion. This way

we liken ourselves, as we should, with Christ, who is the pattern of

our humanity, “the way, the truth and the life” for us.

  

            In this way, we develop the very noble virtue of

magnanimity which, as any dictionary would define, “is a loftiness of

spirit, enabling one to bear trouble calmly, to disdain meanness and

pettiness, and to display a noble generosity.”

  

            This is the virtue that we can readily see in Christ,

especially in his Passion and Death, when even without us asking for

forgiveness yet, already assumed all our sins without committing sin

himself and offered us forgiveness.

  

            Let’s always remember Christ’s command that if we are hit

in one cheek, we offer the other also. If we are challenged to walk

one mile, we walk two miles with the challenger. Let us not miss the

bigger picture that magnanimity offers us.

  

            We have to learn how to be patient and sport in this life,

not losing our sense of humor. What is more important is that we focus

on what we are supposed to do, which we ought to do with great passion

since God expects us to be very fruitful and productive, considering

the many graces and blessings he has given us.

  

            We have to learn how to disregard certain things that will

only hinder us in carrying out the real purpose of our life here on

earth. Yes, we have to be sensitive especially to the needs of people,

but we also have to learn how to be insensitive to certain things and

developments around that get in the way of charity.

  

            We have to know how to move on. May our relationship with

those who may have offended us continue to prosper in charity and

goodwill. In fact, those offenses, if considered from the point of

view of our faith, would occasion great lessons for us to learn. God

knows how to derive good from evil.