Forgiveness is a divine gift from the fact that it is the act that originates from God. The Prophet Micah says: “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin, and forgives transgression of the remnant of his inheritance…” (Micah 7:18-19). This displays that forgiveness is such an essential element in the life of the people of God. Also, it illustrates that forgiveness derives from heaven. God gives this gift so that we may be able to reconcile with him and he may remain in us again after committing sin.
God calls us to himself by his grace as he initiates forgiveness to his people. This is clear in the words of prophet Hosea: “Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruits of our lips” (Hosea 14:2). We see here God reminding us of his great gift of forgiveness as he calls us to return, renew and remain in him. It is the divine gift that when we receive it and use it in forgiving those who do wrong to us, we may then dwell and serve God in his grace of God according to his will.
Jesus Christ on the cross, prior to death and filled with the love and mercy of his Father, uttered the significant words: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23: 34). The words of the Lord testify to us that forgiveness is divine and he said those words from the Cross to demonstrate his love and compassion of forgiveness to humanity. Jesus was always moved and acted according to the forgiving gift and mercy of his Father. Jesus commenced forgiveness as a great example for us to always follow in life. Forgiveness is divine in the sense that God is the one who is the origin of forgiveness so that we may be reconciled with him. He showed us that the best way that he can forgive us is when we follow and respect his ways according to his will.
Forgiveness is like a natural medication because it brings to us immense peace, comfort and relief, the moment we confess our sins and ask for his mercy and forgiveness. Then we ought to forgive others also. Jesus gave us that great example of forgiving others wholeheartedly and it upon his followers, Christians, to accept, appreciate, and practice it in their everyday life and in relations. St. Josephine Bakhita, for example, was born in Sudan in the late 19th century and endured the trauma of being abducted and sold into slavery at a young age. Her life took a turn when she was purchased by an Italian diplomat and eventually brought to Italy. With such immense traumatic abduction and separation from family and culture, and inhuman experiences of hardships and slavery she encountered, the young girl Bakhita still found in her heart the act of love and joy to forgive her abductor and slave masters.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that “Christian prayer extends to the forgiveness of enemies, transfiguring the disciple by configuring him to his Master” (CCC #2844). The Catechism reminds us about the use of this divine gift that comes from above. When we use this precious gift in our spiritual life it will certainly help us to climb the ladder of spiritual life. It is an essential gift that any society of human beings needs to advocate for and to bring people together, for peace, unity, harmony, and justice. God gives us this special gift so that we may renew our relationship with him and with our fellow brothers and sisters.
The Catechism further instructs us that all believers of the Lord should come to know the gift of grace and forgiveness to help them in their call to holy life and discipleship. The Catechism prompts in us the uniqueness of this gift by highlighting that we are to forgive our enemies. In a normal language or thinking it is not easy to grasp this but the spirit of God and by the grace of God we can get it well. That is why forgiveness is divine because we need extra grace and wisdom from above to love our enemies. We need all the time to keep on thinking about it and see how we can use it in our daily life. We are to love our enemies as our Lord Jesus demonstrated to us to follow and observe every day.
Pope St. John Paul II, is another great example of forgiveness and loving an enemy. In 1981 at St Peter’s Square in Vatican City, a gunman, Mehmet Ali Agca, shot Pope John Paul II with an intention to kill him. However, by God’s grace, he survived the gunshot. Pope John Paul II forgave the assassin. He went further visiting him in Italian prison, and made known of his forgiveness and compassion to him. Pope John Paul II was imitating and put into practice what Jesus taught about forgiving those who do harm to us. “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” – (Matthew 6:14-150). Furthermore, John Paul II demonstrated, by word and action, spiritual and corporal works of mercy; love of God and neighbor.
Throughout the world many people, believers and non-believers, were touched and inspired by Pope John Paul II’s forgiveness and visit the shooter who attempted his life. It takes a person of courage, faith, and fear of the Lord to forgive an assassin offender as opposed to revenge. We are reminded that to forgive transgressors is a Christian virtue and observance of commandments of God. Pope John Paul II showed the world how forgiveness and compassion for wrong doers can be great ways to bring reconciliation and create peace and justice instead of revenge and war.
The memory of the late President Nelson Mandela of South Africa is still fresh in the minds and memory of many people specially in South Africa. Mandela, with his African National Congress (ANC) party, relentlessly and vigorously fought the racial apartheid in South Africa for many years. He was thrown into prison for 27 years, but when he was released, he was elected the first black African, a president of South Africa. Nelson Mandela did not think of paying revenge to the defeated apartheid regime who tortured and mistreated the black people in South Africa. He shook hands and forgave the architects of apartheid rule who tortured and imprisoned for 27 years without trial. President Mandela worked with everyone in South Africa to reconcile and unify the country. Mandela imitated what Jesus did to his persecutors. He set a great example to be followed by many people in the world. Mandela is one of the most popular presidents in the world. He used the language of heaven by forgiving people and starting afresh. He reminded people that we are to forgive one another always no matter what happens. In forgiveness we are also reminded we are not perfect people but we need to forgive and we shall be forgiven as well. When we forgive, we live like the child of God. The grace we received in Baptism empowers us to live as children of God. When we are able to practice like Mandela then we can inspire more people.
St, Stephen, one of the seven deacons, he was the first one to die as a martyr. When he was stoned to death, he was able to pray for them and forgave them. “Then he knelt down and said aloud, Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7: 60). He emulated Jesus our Lord. Stephen was able to do that because he was with the power of the Holy Spirit which made him remember the language of heaven about forgiveness. He used well the grace God gave to him by proclaiming and practicing what pertains to the kingdom of God. Forgiveness is a precious divine gift that God gives to believers freely. When we use the gift of God constantly then we will grow in virtues towards our Savior Jesus Christ. As believers we are all obliged to follow the Lord.
Forgiveness is a significant component to live the life of faith. It is the gift that God gives freely to people. It is upon us to understand and accept the gift of God for our betterment. The moment we are able to use this robust gift of forgiveness it makes a great impact in the life of people and society. It is the most significant gift to be used always wherever people are due to the effects of the original sin and that all of us are sinners, and God calls all the faithful to a life of holiness. God knows we are his weak and limited handmaids. He knows our inability to please him always yet with his grace and the power of the Holy Spirit we strive to revamp ourselves to regain our strength to restore our relationship with him and among ourselves.
The gift of forgiveness is precious that can transform the person or transform the group of people or society. For instance, St Rita Cascia, the spouse, was killed by the group who had an antagonistic behavior of killing each other. St Rita Cascia visited them and told them to forgive each other and no more fighting. After her intervention, the two groups stopped and became friends. The killing stopped completely. The people now had a new relationship of respect and caring for one another. You can ruminate how the gift of forgiveness can change people and even the society. Society starts a new relationship like a rose blooming which magnetizes everyone with the sense of joy and peace. When the gift of forgiveness is used well then it can change the society from bad to good, from war to peace, from disunity to unity, from hostility to friendship and from hatred to love of God. This gift is divine and it is one of the things that make heaven rejoice because it is the language of heaven.
I know one person who worked with his father in a very big shop. The father’s business was booming with a lot of profits. The father was able to provide all the needs of the family and his children. When this one went to work with him, the son at first worked hard with the father. The father trusted him in his business and even the money. The father had no doubt at all about his son. Unfortunately, the son had his own agenda. He timed the father and took a large amount of money from the shop and went to open his own shop in one of the big cities in East Africa. His shop lasted for a few months then thieves came and stole everything from the shop. The son became homeless and confused.
The son came back to his senses when he went back to his father. The father closed his business because of bankruptcy. The son went home and found the father. The son immediately knelt down before the father and asked for forgiveness. His father moved with compassion; he forgave the son promptly. St Faustina Kowalska said “The sign of sincere love is to forgive wrongs done for us” The son since then remained at home caring for his father and mother till when the parents died. The forgiveness of the father transformed the son completely. The son repented and became a devout believer to the present time.
In all tribes, nations or any human society, you find them talking and stressing about the most relevant issue about forgiveness. Forgiveness is one of the main elements that can help people to live together for a long time. It is something that people cannot ignore at all. Some tribes have some kind of way that they handle this element of forgiveness. For instance, the Chagas have the way they teach about forgiveness and they value it. They believe that when someone does something wrong to you and later, he comes and asks forgiveness. You are to forgive that person. If not, then people will blame you by refusing to forgive. It displays the necessity of forgiveness. Every human society has some traditional ways of teaching and showing the importance of forgiveness because it is indispensable for people to live and stay together. Couples who have stayed together for a long time know the meaning of forgiving one another.
Normally, in any place where people live together, they must do something that can create irritability. People who live together or work together or even staying together there are some issues that can bring misunderstanding together. In order to clear all things away with the spirit of unity, forgiveness is highly needed. Our order of Apostles of Jesus is to embrace this divine gift always so that we may bring blessings to our institute and inspire others. St Faustina said “He who knows how to forgive prepares for himself many graces from God. As often as I look upon the cross, so often will I forgive with all my heart.” (Diary 390).
Family practices unconditional love and because of that they are capable of overcoming their daily challenges and they keep on going with much unity and peace. We as members of the Apostles of Jesus we are to do the same to practice this virtue in order we may continue to grow in harmony, unity, cooperation and towards our Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus gave us the great example of how to forgive one another and we are to do the same. We are to remember that the grace of God or Holy Spirit will stay where there is forgiveness. St. Ignatius of Loyola said “The one who knows how to forgive prepares for many graces from God”. When every member practices this divine gift then we are to be sure that our institute will ever show a good example to others to follow.
Forgiveness is indispensable wherever people live together. Wherever there is no forgiveness, life will be extremely difficult because people will not live in a real life, people will be living in denial. The place where people do not forgive one another, means the place will be divided, chaos all the time, hostility will grow and even people can start killing each other. When people do not forgive, they can even cause war to happen and people will be fighting without any reason. Without forgiveness people will grow towards self-centeredness, self-righteous, self-gain and self-glory. The danger of this can make people think they are the center of creation forgetting that God is the center of creation. Without forgiveness people will grow in hatred and anger will keep on growing. Without forgiveness people will grow towards the kingdom of darkness instead of growing towards the kingdom of God.
The Scripture is clear as St John says that “if we say, we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and truth has no place in us” (1John 1: 8) it is upon us to think and meditate about this divine gift of forgiveness so that we may apply it in our daily lives. The prayer of Our Father says “And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us” (Matthew 6:12) It is true that when we forgive others our sins will also be forgiven. No one who is a perfect human being. We know that forgiveness is a great treasure that is needed all the time to be put into practice. When we forgive, we truly live as children of God. We get the power of the Holy Spirit that will enable us to grow in the love of God. It is true that people who live together like a couple means they know how to forgive and let it go. Family or community who knows how to forgive each other will survive for a long time. They will inspire others all the time to follow the ways of God. The one who knows how to forgive will certainly grow towards holiness and do the will of God. Let remember what St. Louis de Montfort said “Forgiveness is not only a gift we give to others but also a path to our own spiritual healing and peace”
In this divine gift when it is well practiced, it has profound benefits as follows, healthier relationships, reduces stress, anxiety, hostility, emotional healing, personal growth, improves heart health, strengthens relationships, cultivates greater sense of spirituality. We have seen here that for anyone who is able to put into practice this divine gift will get more grace and joy from the fact it is a divine gift. By living this gift of forgiveness will bring to us the living of the baptismal grace and promises of being new and living as the children of God.
In conclusion, I would like to admonish anyone who reads this article to put this divine gift into practice daily in your life and you will realize it’s great grace. Remember that the saints whom we venerate men and women were put people who became heroes by practicing this virtue. They were able to grow every day in virtues towards heaven. Jesus blessed them more and kept helping to better understand the kingdom of God.
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