Feast of the Holy Family
December 31, 2006
FOURTH REFLECTION: “Love is the choice to forgive.”
From the cross the crucified Christ cries out: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” These words represent a conscious deliberate choice that Jesus made to forgive his murderers, to forgive sinners! What an awesome love God has for us. Jesus himself tells his disciples that “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” And if dying for another is the greatest act of love, then certainly “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” is a close second.
Over my twenty five years as a priest I have witnessed many times over the healing power of forgiveness. I have seen husbands and wives forgive adulterous spouses. It wasn’t easy and was always preceded by weeks and even months of bitter arguing and weeping on both sides. But when the abused spouse could see clear to forgive, then healing and renewal and love came back into their lives and into the lives of their children.
I’ve seen the alienation of parents and children, and sibling from sibling healed by forgiveness. What an awesome we wield when we choose to forgive.
I’ve also seen the opposite. I’ve seen long term marriages end abruptly because the abused spouse just couldn’t or wouldn’t forgive the other. I’ve seen how the anger, bitterness and meanness eat at them and poison all their relationships.
It is in forgiving us that Jesus proves his love.
“Love is the choice to forgive.”
From the cross the crucified Christ cries out: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” These words represent a conscious deliberate choice that Jesus made to forgive his murderers, to forgive sinners! What an awesome love God has for us. Jesus himself tells his disciples that “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” And if dying for another is the greatest act of love, then certainly “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” is a close second.
Over my twenty five years as a priest I have witnessed many times over the healing power of forgiveness. I have seen husbands and wives forgive adulterous spouses. It wasn’t easy and was always preceded by weeks and even months of bitter arguing and weeping on both sides. But when the abused spouse could see clear to forgive, then healing and renewal and love came back into their lives and into the lives of their children.
I’ve seen the alienation of parents and children, and sibling from sibling healed by forgiveness. What an awesome we wield when we choose to forgive.
I’ve also seen the opposite. I’ve seen long term marriages end abruptly because the abused spouse just couldn’t or wouldn’t forgive the other. I’ve seen how the anger, bitterness and meanness eat at them and poison all their relationships.
It is in forgiving us that Jesus proves his love.
“Love is the choice to forgive.”
