Forgiveness

They say be careful what you ask for – you may actually get it. Well, that was true for me. As a former Confirmation teacher to teenagers, I used to give my students homeworks that made them think and most of them turn in pages that I had to read. At the start of every cycle I would tell them three things I will make them do in class: think, write and speak. I got what I asked for, but who had more homework now?

But I am humbled by the fact that my students trusted me with their innermost thoughts. Although we did not discuss things they wrote in class unless they want to, I got to know how they think that enabled me to deal with these young people better.

Our lesson for that day was about relationships and forgiveness. I asked them to write about their best or worst relationships and why. The essays I received were very interesting and the discussion we had was quite revealing. We talked about trust, betrayal, pain, sins, friendships, enemies, siblings, parents and many other things that had anything to do with relationships.

We discussed the fact that everyone sin – how we all make mistakes, say stupid things and hurt even the people we honestly love. If the mistake was done to us, we hurt and feel betrayed. In many cases, relationships end there. In some instances, if the people involved truly cared about each other, they start over and try to patch things up.

We have to accept the fact that we are all capable of making mistakes, of sinning, of hurting people. The other fact is, we hurt as much when we sin. The guilt can truly be burdensome, and painful. But if we are truly contrite, things can be worked out. Forgiveness can be attained. Relationships can be restored and happiness could be achieved.

I spoke about St. Paul whose job it was to kill Christians. He was one of the biggest sinners, and yet after Jesus appeared to him, he asked for forgiveness and became the greatest evangelist of all time. Our God is a forgiving God. All we have to do is repent and be truly penitent.

Our relationship with God is hinged on our relationships with our fellow human beings. We can pray all day and all night, but if we are not willing to ask for forgiveness from people we have wronged, and if we are not able to forgive those who wronged us, that relationship with God will remain shallow.

Forgiveness is grace given to hearts that are empty and open for God to come in and fill it with love. It is only through love and in love that our hearts open - but then again, isn't that what God is? Love?