FORGIVING

September 17, 2023 – 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091723.cfm)

“To err is human, to forgive is divine”. At times easy for us to say these words to make excuses for our wrong-doings and to ask forgiveness for our mistakes. However, same words of excuse we also  use at times to refuse forgiveness to those who have wronged and hurt us. “Pasensya lang, tao lang po.” Words that verily  describe not only our human frailty but also how difficult it is for us to forgive others who have wronged us. Perhaps asking forgiveness is much easier than giving forgiveness, but nevertheless to forgive is indeed difficult, especially whenever it is associated with “forgive and forget”.

When his disciples asked Jesus how often should we forgive those who have sinned against us, they are just expressing our difficulties in living out and upholding the value of forgiveness in our lives. Yes, like the disciples we see the importance of forgiveness into our lives but we also know how difficult and frustrating forgiveness can be.

In response to our questions and difficulties with forgiveness, Jesus in our gospel teaches and offers us something more about forgiveness. When he said “not seven times but seventy times seven”, Jesus is telling us to forgive indefinitely. Forgiveness then is not about counting (counting faults, sins, mistakes and forgiveness) but about sharing, giving what you have – without counting the cost or prize. This would also mean that though it is human for us to err and to forgive is divine, nevertheless it also human to forgive. In other words, frail human as we are, we can also forgive and be forgiving of others – how difficult and frustrating it may be. We can still humanely and divinely share forgiveness with one another. 

And in the parable of “the forgiven but unforgiving servant”, Jesus is teaching us that forgiveness is more than just “forgive and forget”. To forgive for Jesus is all about settling account, paying back, and being patient. Meaning to forgive is not about forgetting but about to evaluate or put value and importance to the action-done, experience-happened and the relationship-build. In other words,  Bigyang halaga at hinidi binabaliwala lamang. So, to forgive is then not to forget but rather to remember (to make and value the experience as part-member of ones life.). It is a decision to give value, importance and responsibility to your action, experience and relationship – and not to get out, get rid, get away from our own mess, but to give God, each others and yourself another chance to grow and live life.  It is also to remember the wrongdoings-done and learn lessons from the mistake. Thus to forgive is perhaps to forget the resentment but moreso, to remember the lessons-learned for the sake of healing & growth. 

And the message of the parable directs us to “Be forgiving as we are and have been forgiven by God”. Let our reason for forgiving and sharing forgiveness be not ourselves (to feel good) or be not others (to appease) but be God, who forgive and love us first and always. Forgive then not for our’s or other’s sake but for God’s sake. Forgiveness is God’s grace we received and ought to be shared to others. Let our forgiveness be our offering of gratitude for God’s mercy and forgiveness.

In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus taught us to ask our Father to “Forgive us As we forgive those who have sinned against us”. This is our cry to the Father to give us another chance in life as we try our best to give ourselves and other’s another chance also in life, how difficult it might be. Yes, forgiveness is divinely-granted and also humanly-shared, not to be forgotten but be remembered for its value in life.

Human as we are, yet are blessed and forgiven, may we be and ought to be forgiving for God’s sake to others especially to those who have wronged and hurt us.

So be it.