tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668594987436792920.post1209716716891806320..comments2023-07-05T08:17:21.505-04:00Comments on Getting to the Point: Works of Mercy: Forgiving Offences WillinglyFr. Denis Lemieuxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01049723287624178155noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668594987436792920.post-7141183657141602762016-03-31T11:32:32.931-04:002016-03-31T11:32:32.931-04:00Well, my daughter and I and a friend had a long co... Well, my daughter and I and a friend had a long conversation about this just last night. Having read this reflection and having prayed about it thru the day...helped me. So, thank you friend.<br /> We are dealing with some very serious wrongs/ offenses. The difficulty is that the offenses persist (to a lesser degree) despite attempts to address them in proper channels. <br /> They are serious offenses causing pain and impairing healing for my daughter. Last night she was struggling hard with foregiveness. "That is what Jesus would do". " I want to be like Jesus".<br /> We talked about how sometimes we can be hurt much more deeply than we are able to humanly forgive. Sometimes all we can do is call for Jesus, ask for his prescence in the mire and mess and trust. That does not mean hanging on to hurt, anger or fear. <br /> Perhaps, it is just hanging on to mercy. Mercy is a gift that must also be given to the one who was sinned against.<br /> i think of Jesus who while nails were pounded thru his hands into the wood of the cross said "forgive them father for they know not what they do". Its the know not what they do part that is important here. I mean, he is talking about people who are genuinely ignorant. Maybe, foregiveness does not really work when people DO KNOW what they are doing. True foregiveness happens when the offense - the full report of the evil done is brought into the light- so justice can be applied, the persons involved restored, as the sins are forgiven in full.<br /> As I watch my daughter struggle in this- and know of my own struggles- i see that it is Healthy and probably right to feel angry, hurt, even afraid. These are natural responses in the face of such evil and right according to the degree of the the offense. <br /> I finally came to this: the right to forgive belongs to the victim. People heal at different rates and I will love her as long as it takes to get over this. Probably much longer.<br /> I can't/ we can't urge the those wounded by serious offenses to forgive...its arrogant. For example- I can forgive The bombers for whatever grief or anxiety or sadness they caused me for the atrocities Paris and Brussels...but my experience is in no way similar to those actually in the streets of Paris, those in the theatre, those parents of children in the playground, the people in the airport...and it is just ridiculous to compare that. So we pray for foregiveness for others- but I do not think we can fore give on behalf of others. That belongs with the one wronged and to Jesus who has taken this all upon Himself. <br /> Catherinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668594987436792920.post-3222663381500577222016-03-30T21:44:17.635-04:002016-03-30T21:44:17.635-04:00Good distinction - thanks.Good distinction - thanks.Fr. Denis Lemieuxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01049723287624178155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668594987436792920.post-15601871375161579362016-03-30T20:31:46.699-04:002016-03-30T20:31:46.699-04:00Mercy is an act of God and benefits the recipient....Mercy is an act of God and benefits the recipient. Forgiveness is a human act and benefits the forgiving not the forgiven.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668594987436792920.post-51423689479687512692016-03-30T07:58:14.244-04:002016-03-30T07:58:14.244-04:00A wise Monsignor once told me, "To forgive is...A wise Monsignor once told me, "To forgive is perfection. To want to forgive is beautiful. But if all you can do is WISH you wanted to forgive... Well, I think God will take note of that, too." Kristyn Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12596129414614469667noreply@blogger.com