32nd Week OT (M)
Why is it so difficult to forgive someone who's sinned against me? Jesus plainly says that I should forgive. Even seven times in one day! That's a lot to ask. What if forgiving the sinner leads him to believe that his sin is really not a sin? Or that the sin didn't hurt me? What if he sees my forgiveness as a sign of weakness and decides to take advantage of me? Or he's encouraged to sin against someone else in the same way? I've forgiven him, but I don't feel like I've forgiven him. What if I'm still angry about the sin? What if I can't move on? What if. . .what if. . .what if. All day long. . .what if. Jesus says, “If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.” He says nothing about how we ought to feel about forgiving the sinner. He sins. You rebuke. He repents. You forgive. End of scene. Jesus says nothing about about how forgiveness might prevent future sins. Or how forgiveness might change the nature of sin. He says, “If he sins seven times in one day and repents seven times, then you should forgive him seven times.” All of the what if's change nothing about sin or forgiveness. For the sake of your peace and his, it must be done.
Now, the what if's don't go away simply b/c you've followed Jesus' orders. They hang around and needle you with worry. Of course they do! The Enemy isn't happy about all this forgiveness flying around willy-nilly. So, there's the temptation to brood over the sin; to wallow in the hurt the sin caused; to nurse the anger and a need for revenge; to question motives and suspect plots. Before you know it, you've sinned; the cycle starts all over. And the Enemy smiles. Here's how to wipe that smile off his face. You control nothing beyond how you choose to react to someone sinning against you. You cannot control how the sinner receives your forgiveness. You cannot control whether or not he sins again. The only thing you can do is determine how you will react to the sinner. Forgiveness frees you both. Why would you want to cling to his offense? Why would you choose to fall into disobedience along side him? The what if's and whatabout's are irrelevant. How you feel about forgiving him is irrelevant. How much the sin cost you is irrelevant. The most freeing sentence in the English language is: “I forgive you.” Say it and enjoy your freedom.
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