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Forgive All Injuries – A Meditation on the Sixth Spiritual Work of Mercy
Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 06-09-15 | Msgr. Charles Pope

Posted on 06/10/2015 7:24:04 AM PDT by Salvation

Forgive All Injuries – A Meditation on the Sixth Spiritual Work of Mercy

By: Msgr. Charles Pope

forgive

Of all the things about which I preach, very few (if any) provoke as strong (and usually negative) a reaction as the call to forgive. I get more angry pushback after a Mass at which I preach on forgiveness than when I speak about chastity, greed, or any other challenging moral topic.

It would seem that the anger is rooted in two things: first, that the call to forgive implies some dishonoring or diminishing of the pain or injustice someone has experienced, and second, that it seems to imply that there is a requirement to stay in or resume relationships that are poisonous or dysfunctional. But forgiveness need not imply either of these.

Forgiveness is a concept that is often misunderstood. Many people interpret it to mean that they must stop having negative feelings about something that happened to them, or toward someone who hurt them. Many also think of forgiveness as a work they must do out of their own power, rather than as a gift to be received from God. No! Forgiveness is a work of God within us, whereby He acts to free us from the poisonous effects of bitterness and grief that often accompany the harm that was inflicted upon us.

Forgiveness is letting go of the need to change the past. Obviously, we cannot change the past; we cannot change what has happened. But we too easily think that ruminating over past hurts will somehow change what happened or even “get back at” the other person. It will not. Refusing to forgive is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. Clinging to our hurt and anger, understandable though it may be, only harms us.

Thus forgiveness is first for us, more so than for the other. In calling us to forgive, God is offering us the gift to be free of a great deal of poison and of a costly emotional state that robs us of joy and strength. Carrying anger and hurt is like lugging around bowling balls all day long. What a relief it is to just be free of that weight! And this is what God offers when He gives us the grace to forgive, to let go of the need to change the past, to let go of the desire for others to suffer because of what they have done to us.

Forgiveness does not necessarily mean that we are able or even should resume relationships with people who have done us great harm. At times we are able to do so, but it is not always advisable. Sometimes relationships are poisonous for both parties involved. Sometimes, because the other person has not or cannot repent (perhaps because of addictions or deep-seated drives), it is too dangerous to be close to him or her. Thus Scripture says, If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord (Rom 12:18).

Receiving the gift of forgiveness requires a growing relationship with God and a trust that He sees and knows all things. As my relationship with God grows, it increasingly becomes enough for me to know that if someone who has harmed me does not repent (and I pray that he does), he is going to have to answer to God one day. God sees all things, understands all things, and will deal with things in the best way. Increasingly, I am content to leave most things to Him.

How is the forgiving of injuries a spiritual work of mercy? First of all, as we have seen, it is a work of mercy toward our very self. Anger, hurt, and nursing grudges all sap us of strength, stress us, and vex us. Receiving the gift to forgive is a mercy for us since we are relieved of these burdens. Our strength and energy can be directed to other, better things. We even sleep better!

And because our strength is directed to good and profitable things, we are now better able to love and be available to others. This, too, is a great mercy.

It is not always the case that the harm to us is so great that we cannot be restored to a relationship with those who have harmed us. Thus, forgiving injuries is also a work of mercy to the one who has harmed us; it can restore to them a relationship with us that is important to them. It is a very great gift to offer mercy and pardon to one who has harmed us and seeks our forgiveness.

In the family and in the wider community as well, forgiving injuries is a work of mercy, since it breaks the cycle of anger and retribution that often tears families, communities, and nations apart. It is a restorative work that knits together ties that have frayed.

This is a great work of mercy indeed. In moments of grave harm it may be difficult to access, but always pray for this gift. Almost nothing is more poisonous, both to us and others, than festering anger and resentment. Thus, to forgive injuries is a great, healing gift to receive from God and share with others. Ah, the beauty of mercy!



TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; History; Theology
KEYWORDS: catholic; forgive; forgiveness; mercy; msgrcharlespope; workofmercy
Video
1 posted on 06/10/2015 7:24:04 AM PDT by Salvation
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To: Salvation

It has been suggested to me to write the name of the person who has harmed me on the back of a religious picture. Every time, then when I walk past that picture I can place my hand on it and say a silent prayer for that person. Eventually through the prayer — the forgiveness comes.

At first, I was told, you don’t even have to talk with that person...maybe just smile and be silent. Then go to the next step where you can say “Hello” or “Good Morning” sincerely and not sarcastically.

Meanwhile keep praying. I was surprised at how soon I was able to forgive this person who had calumniated me. (And it happened at church, too! I found out about it, of course, through a third party.)

I was pretty angry right then, but gradually was able to let go of that anger through the little prayers as I walked by that picture.


2 posted on 06/10/2015 7:29:31 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: nickcarraway; NYer; ELS; Pyro7480; livius; ArrogantBustard; Catholicguy; RobbyS; marshmallow; ...

Monsignor Pope Ping!


3 posted on 06/10/2015 7:35:55 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation

Somebody forward this to the First Lady


4 posted on 06/10/2015 7:44:37 AM PDT by paterfamilias
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To: Salvation

I had a similar experience, and eventually was able to forgive.

Forgiveness is a command, not a helpful suggestion, so when we focus on being obedient to God, it WILL happen.


5 posted on 06/10/2015 7:46:45 AM PDT by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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To: paterfamilias

LOL!


6 posted on 06/10/2015 8:41:25 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: left that other site

Now I understand why forgiveness is a command that comes from God. It was after what I had seen last night on “Hannity” when I had seen what happened in McKinny TX, two women fighting at a Walmart, and two guys out in CA fighting against each other on a busy street. It comes down to either forgive or fight each other.


7 posted on 06/10/2015 8:46:38 AM PDT by Biggirl ("One Lord, one faith, one baptism" - Ephesians 4:5)
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To: Biggirl

Yep. That is what it boils down to.

Or even worse, fighting against ourselves! :-)


8 posted on 06/10/2015 9:10:10 AM PDT by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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To: Biggirl

“Our Father who art in heaven.....Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”


9 posted on 06/10/2015 9:12:38 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: left that other site; Salvation

Forgiveness is a command, not a helpful suggestion, so when we focus on being obedient to God, it WILL happen.


Amen.

I love the picture/prayer idea, Salvation.


10 posted on 06/10/2015 9:16:34 AM PDT by Jane Long ("And when thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek")
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To: Jane Long

I couldn’t even look at the person when I first started because I had so much anger.

But slowly through the process of prayer.......forgiveness came.


11 posted on 06/10/2015 9:45:13 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Jane Long

Actually, it could be any picture, maybe a nature scene; it doesn’t absolutely have to be a religious picture. But for me, that helped.


12 posted on 06/10/2015 9:47:22 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: left that other site; Alex Murphy; bkaycee; blue-duncan; boatbums; caww; CynicalBear; daniel1212; ..

There is an excellent little book out called “Forgiveness” by Rodney Hogue.

Some points he makes are that forgiveness recognizes that an offense has occurred which created a debt towards the person offended is owed, but that the offended person chooses to release the other person of their debt and into the hands of Jesus.

It doesn’t mean that what happened was OK, or not serious, but it means you choose to release that person from the debt owed.

It addresses the issue of reconciliation, and also covers some of the consequences of not forgiving, which is the building of strongholds of bitterness, resentment, and anger by the enemy in our minds.

It’s a short read but very concise and well worth it.

(It does NOT cost the extortionate rate of $46 that one site on Amazon was asking for it. It’s a book, not an encyclopedia.)

Here’s a link to the source. Much cheaper here, and fairly priced for the size book, IMO.

http://globalawakeningstore.com/Forgiveness.html


13 posted on 06/11/2015 1:20:08 AM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: Salvation

That’s lovely.


14 posted on 06/15/2015 4:39:51 AM PDT by Mad Dawg (In te, Domine, speravi: non confundar in aeternum.)
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