March 8, 2022: Thoughts on Forgiveness for All

“If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” – Matthew 14-15

Throughout the course of life, we face troubles within ourselves and with other people in our community. It is rather difficult to forgive someone who has done something to wrong me. Being hurt, losing trust and feeling disillusioned, it is hard to simply forget that and not feel the pain that the person or event brought in. However, I cannot expect God to forgive me for the sins I commit if I do not forgive others for things that have happened to me. There are lessons to be learned from the encounters in life, but the lesson is not really to carry this anger.

Carrying this pain in the heart wears heavy on me, and I see why. It is a block that separates me from being able to connect with God in a closer manner. Working to be able to forgive others is necessary for me to be able to love and appreciate God and his gifts far more.

“Dear God, allow me to see your light and your love. Allow me to see your gifts in the people around me. Give me the strength I need to lift this weight off my shoulders and forgive.”

– Miguel Serrano

Do’s and Don’ts

“Speak to the whole assembly of the children of Israel and tell them: Be holy, for I, the LORD, your God, am holy.” – Lv 19:1-2

As a young child I was often told by my parents, “don’t be mean!” and “don’t touch that!” – among other “don’t” statements – which made me think that to be a good person, I simply had to sit tight and “not mess it up.” The first reading from Leviticus echoes this “don’t do this” attitude, as the Lord commands the children of Israel with a slew of “You shall not…” statements. But as I grew a little older, the rhetoric coming from my parents changed to “be nice to your sister!” and “can you help with this?” – instead of a “don’t” attitude, I noticed a “do” attitude. This positive framing is aptly seen in Jesus’ teaching to His disciples in the Gospel – in my view, Jesus treats His disciples as more mature, showing that the children of Israel have grown up a little. As I grow, I hope to remember that this world needs that “do” attitude as much as it needs the “don’t” attitude, both for the glory of God, and for our good.

Jesus, I ask that You grant me the grace not to mess it up, and to do Your will in all things. Amen.

– Ignatius