"Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and
whose sins you retain are retained." - John 20: 23.
The authority to forgive and retain
sins was indeed given to the first bishops of the Church and is currently
exercised in the Sacrament of Reconciliation in the Catholic Church, but the
authority to forgive sins was given to each of us on a much more personal
level. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the two sacraments of
healing. Open wounds do not heal on
their own. Forgiveness acts as stitches that bind spiritual wounds closed and
allow the healing to begin.
We have each been given the
authority to forgive those who trespass against us. In the “Our Father” we give
God permission to only forgive our sins to the same degree as we are willing to
forgive the sins of those who have sinned against us. We tell God that it is ok
for him, through his Church, to retain our sins and not forgive us for them if
we are not willing to forgive those who have wronged us.
If your brother has wronged you the
first step of healing that wound is not an apology from him. Healing can only
begin by the person who has been wronged. Healing can only begin by closing the
wound by forgiving your brother of his wrong.
There is nothing a penitent man can
do amend for his wrongs to a god who does not forgive. God, our Father, is a
loving God who will forgive our sins and allow us to show our deep sorrow to
him through humble hearts and penance.
We in turn need to offer our
brother the same kind of forgiveness for the wrongs we have suffered. We give
God praise for his great glory when we imitate him and freely and completely
forgive those who trespass against us. When we truly forgive from the heart we
let go of the pain and suffering the wrong as caused. We close the wound, allow
the healing to begin, and are liberated by love.
We live in a world where people
want everything to be permissible but forgive nothing. We live in a world of
hurt, anger, and hate where everyone seems so easily offended. Now imagine a
world full of love and kindness where neighbors do not quarrel over trivial
things. That world begins with forgiveness. That world begins with you.
In the next week find at least one
person with whom you have had a long standing grudge and do your best to
forgive them from the heart. Take that first step to mend an old wound. Let
God’s infinite mercy flow through you and see just how liberating forgiveness
actually is.
