The urge to respond to offenses in anger can be a difficult one to squelch, but we have an example we're called to follow as Christians:
Remember that Our Lord never said a single word against those who condemned him; he did not in any way pass judgment on them; it was he who was wrongfully judged and condemned, and he remained in peace and died in peace and his only revenge was to pray for them.
~St. Francis de Sales
In the words of the prayer that Jesus recommended, "Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us". The implication here is that we will receive forgiveness from God in the same measure we forgive those who wrong us. This is something that can be rather frightening to consider if our first instinct is to retaliate.
But the quote from de Sales contains the secret to being able to forgive: praying for the person who did us harm. By asking God - perhaps many times a day - to bless those who've hurt us, our hearts can be transformed. God can work for us the miracle we may find it impossible to do on our own.
I love your posts about forgiveness Sue - especially from dear sensible St Francis de Sales!
ReplyDeleteWonderful timing - this just appeared in the news today: http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/funeral-for-killer-bird-1.722872?referrerPath=news
My thoughts and prayers are with the family AND with all those bereaved.
I agree with you, and in theory it is great, but in reality very difficult at times. There is someone in my life that has it out for me & my family and will take everything away from my family if he can get away with it. This person is also the one who was a catalysts that lead my brother to an early death a year ago. He does not ask for forgiveness or think he needs it for that matter. I don't know how to even begin to wrap my head around forgiveness. But....I can pray for God's healing and leading:-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post
Kathiey - There's no one alive who can say with honesty that (s)he hasn't struggled with forgiveness, although the precise circumstances are different for each of us. I know I carried around the burden of unforgiveness for many years. Ultimately, though, someone reminded me that only I was feeling the pain of not forgiving. The person I was hurt by didn't feel a thing. This was especially apparent to me when I realized that this person had been dead for 10 years... and yet I was still full of resentment and self-pity and anger.
ReplyDeleteUltimately, the secret for me was precisely what Francis de Sales advised in the quote above. And he was simply passing on something he'd gleaned from Matthew 5:43-45: "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."
Difficult? Absolutely. I agree 100%. But if you are able to forgive (with the help and grace of God), you will find yourself freed from a terrible burden. It may take a while - it did for me - but know that I will pray for you.
In His love,
Sue
I've experienced this in my life on a couple of occasions. As you said in your comment, Sue, it is absolutely difficult. But something mysterious happens as we pray for our enemy--I guess it's the work of the Holy Spirit. At first it's just done out of obedience, and maybe not very sincerely. But as we pray blessings on the one who hurt us, the anger gradually recedes. And in the end we can find ourselves loving our enemy. That can only be Jesus living in us! Praise the Lord!
ReplyDeleteHey guys, thanks for the encouragement and advice. I am thinking about trying....I guess that is a start:-)
ReplyDelete