Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church

Last weeks gospel and homily on forgiveness, touched a lot of souls. Many parishioners asked if I could share my notes. I have captured them here in a manner fitting the bulletin:

What is forgiveness, which our Lord describes in such dramatic terms as absolutely necessary?
If we don’t forgive as we are forgiven, we will find ourselves burdened with unpayable debt. In the parable, the debt forgiven is a sum equal to 160,000 years salary. At 50k a year, that is $8 billion. What is the sum the same man refuses to forgive? 100 days wages, about $14,000 at the same pay rate.

So let’s talk forgiveness, lest we be thrown into the fires to pay off the unpayable debt. But let me begin with what it isn’t:

Forgiveness is NOT Pretending. It is an offense against truth to try to pretend that sin does no harm. “Oh, it’s no big deal,” is not a path to healing and forgiveness. Pretending sin does not harm is repression, not truth. Acknowledging harm is the first step.

Forgiveness is NOT Forgetting. I have heard, and even said, “forgive and forget.” The scriptures speak
of the Lord forgetting, precisely because it is a super- natural possibility. Here is a startling sentence from the Catechism where it is addressing the Our Father and the parable (CCC 2843):

It is not in our power not to feel or to forget an offense; but the heart that offers itself to the Holy Spirit turns injury into compassion and purifies the memory in transforming the hurt into intercession.

It is not in our human power “not to feel or to forget an offense.” But the heart that forgives in sanctifying even the very wound!

Forgiveness is NOT Excusing. Yes, our Lord says, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” We are not God. Instead our excusing is rationalizing sin. There will be no room for rationalizing and excusing when we stand before the judgement of God. Sadly, much of what passes for compassion today is an excusing and rationalizing of sin.

Forgiveness is not blindly trusting again. Someone came to me asking what to do because her husband was abusing their children in the worst way. I had to insist she call the police immediately, and that forgiving him did not mean blindly trusting and allowing him back into their children’s life.

Jesus did not trust blindly because He knows all things, including human hearts. We must forgive, but also exercise prudence to protect the vulnerable. Yes, especially in marriage and family, that forgiveness will allow grace to heal and rebuild trust as a gift from God.

Forgiveness is NOT a Feeling. Like love it is a choice, an act of supernatural power and charity. Forgiveness is a choice.

Yes, our feelings ultimately follow our choices. Our choice to forgive cuts off the circulation to the anger, passion, and wrath that we are tempted to hold onto. Instead, it directs that energy to the healing warmth of mercy.

Forgiveness is a choice that is rooted in justice, that to each must be rendered what is due to them.
Justice requires fixing the damage done. But what to do when we have done $8 billion worth of damage?

Forgiveness IS voluntarily choosing to bear the consequences and burden of someone else’s sin. Look at a crucifix and reconsider: Forgiveness is voluntarily choosing to bear the consequences and burden of someone else’s sin.

‘By His stripes we were healed.’ No one took His life; He laid it down freely.

Your children, spouse, pastor, Church, all need forgiveness from you. As you have received, so you must give. Your own forgiveness depends on it.

pax,

Father John Mosimann