Day 18: Tuesday, February 26

Forgiveness. Such an easy word to say.

Why, then, is it such a hard word to apply? Jesus teaches us over and over again to forgive those who have hurt us, yet often we find ourselves offering verbal, not behavioral, forgiveness. We forgive and stash rather than forgive and forget, not realizing that we are drowning in the poisonous ocean of our own anger.

Yet, in this passage, Jesus tells us we should not rebuke a person’s sin without a willingness to forgive.

Perhaps we fear forgiveness, thinking it will somehow discount the offense. So, we stay anchored in our deep, toxic waters of rage and retaliation, stubbornly trying to float with a firm grip on the bricks in our hands.

Shouldn’t we ask for the grace to forgive others as we want God to forgive us? Jesus taught us to pray for those who have wronged us, which is concurrently one of His most arduous and liberating teachings. Although counter-intuitive, by praying for the offender’s healing, a little miracle happens—we also receive healing.

Forgiveness signifies no longer submerging ourselves in fault and pain. It means letting go so that we can move forward to walk with Jesus. It is an act shot through with divine light, transforming our lives and restoring our own capacity to love.

Jesus left us with such a powerful charge: to be His hands, His feet and His mouth here on earth. Can we accomplish this by holding on to resentment, by refusing to grant amnesty?

Freedom gushes out of forgiveness. Drop the bricks. Rise to the surface and God’s higher love.

Kimberly Haeringer