“I forgive you…”. This is a very difficult task to do, my dear brothers and sisters, but surely not impossible. Let me share with you a wonderful experience that I had. After completing my graduation and when I was working, I had attended many prayer meetings. I belonged to a prayer group and we used to have our team prayer once a week. We were about five or six of us. One day, during our prayer, one of the team members just called me aside and told me, that I need to forgive someone. I started to recall as to who I need to forgive. The next day I took a day off from work and sat before the Blessed Sacrament. The Lord revealed to me the person and I forgave him from my heart, removing the hatred from within me and accepting him as a child of God. And that day I felt so light and I truly felt the grace of God filling me.
For the word of God says, “If you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” – Matthew 6:14-15. “For judgement will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy.” – James 2:13.
We need to forgive and reconcile to our brothers and sisters, otherwise our prayers, our intentions, our offerings will not be accepted by God. Jesus says, “When you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister and then come and offer your gift.” – Matthew 5: 23-24.
Jesus is the best example for us. He lived and died for us that we may be washed from our sins and attain eternal life. We love ourselves even after committing so many mistakes; so how can we hate others for their one mistake. So lets forgive and love together just as our Father wants us to be “How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity” – Psalm 133:1
