To Love Is To Forgive

𝐀𝐔𝐆. 𝟏𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟑: 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐇 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊 𝐈𝐍 𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐃𝐞𝐮𝐭 𝟑𝟒:𝟏-𝟏𝟐

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐦: 𝐏𝐬𝐚 𝟔𝟔:𝟏-𝟑, 𝟓, 𝟖, 𝟏𝟔-𝟏𝟕 “𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞.”

𝐆𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐋: 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓 𝟏𝟖:𝟏𝟓-𝟐𝟎

𝑲𝒆𝒚 𝑽𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆: “..𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒚 𝒎𝒚 𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏.” (𝒗.19)

          Are you aware that discipleship springs forth from discipline. And we see this in all of the spiritual organizations down to the level of every apostolate and ministry and this is simply because we cannot be a follower of Christ without adhering to the discipline required from each one of us.

          As there are certain types of disciplines that are observed in a temporal organization, so it is with a spiritual group or community which we normally refer to as Christian discipline. One such form of discipline is the subject of today’s Gospel reading that we all know as “𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧” which is written down in the manuals of every parish council and or, charismatic community.

          Sadly, however, this beautiful process in resolving conflicts is rarely referred to in times of disagreements which most of the time are addressed using human wisdom instead of applying the biblical principles in resolving squabbles in a Christian setting.

          Many times conflicts among members of such organizations remain unresolved and lead to deep divisions and ruffled feelings that tend to linger which affects the goals and mission of these organizations.  

         When reading this Gospel narrative there is a tendency to follow to the letter the suggestions laid down by Jesus relative to how differences and sins that have been committed are to be addressed and resolved. And there are some who have subscribed to these guidelines.

         Granting for the sake of argument that we follow what Jesus said in 𝒗.17 “𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒂𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒏, 𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒕𝒂𝒙-𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓,” will it not contradict what he is said in 𝐯.𝟐𝟏-𝟐𝟐 of this same Chapter although this is not yet the subject of our Reflection today.

         This was what we said yesterday that we need to look beyond the written words of the Scriptures for us to grasp the full meaning and substance of what God is telling us. This Gospel narrative is one such example in which we must rely not only on the counsel of the Holy Spirit but on the works of other Biblical scholars.

         It would be a good exercise for us to read not just the Gospel passage before us in 𝐯𝐯.𝟏𝟓-𝟐𝟎 but also the preceding passages and the following passages thereafter because in them we will find what Jesus truly meant.

         Remember that the passage before this one was about the lost sheep and it is clear that Jesus was referring to sinners as the lost sheep that must be found hence, He prescribes certain measures on how to deal with sinners.

         Clearly this is a message for believers and not for those who don’t share our faith and religious beliefs and this should also not be used as an authority for everyone who may have hurt us to just bring our conflict to the Church. Far from it because the real intent of these steps that Jesus are suggesting are meant to bring healing and reconciliation to the contending parties in a conflict.

         And the message for us is that most often many of us do exactly the opposite of what was being suggested here. When we are hurt, we run away carrying with us our hatred, anger and bitterness. There are times when seeking revenge and getting back on our oppressors cross our minds.

         Difficult as it may seem to be, what Jesus was saying is for us to go to that person who may have wronged us and forgive that person as this will create an atmosphere that can help restore broken relationships. And the grant of forgiveness shouldn’t be made based on conditions but one that is freely given.

         While Jesus may indeed be talking of the participation of the Church in resolving conflicts among believers, decisions of the Church are to be the result of its discernment using the Word of God as the foundation because the Church is mandated to use the guidance of the Holy Spirit to resolve conflicts.

         Outside of the Church per se, the need to enter into a dialogue with anyone who may have wronged us is necessary because there is also the possibility that what we may think or may be harboring in our hearts are merely perceptions of what we thought somebody may have said done or said against us.

         Our attitude in fact should not likened to a policeman who is out to arrest a criminal, but rather that of a physician seeking to heal a wound in the body of Christ, a wound that will spread sickness and death if left unattended. The “𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠” referred to in 𝐯.𝟏𝟖 is about applying the Word of God in matters of discipline. Paul “𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝” the offending brother in 𝟏 𝐂𝐨𝐫 𝟓 and “𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦” after he had confessed (𝟐 𝐂𝐨𝐫 𝟐).

         Since the main purpose of Christian discipline and fraternal correction is to save the soul of the offender, it follows that prayer is an important factor in discipline as it is strongly suggested that we must pray for the offender and for ourselves that we might be spiritually able to minister to the person concerned (𝐆𝐚𝐥 𝟔:𝟏).

         People are relational beings and there are many instances when words are spoken and what is being passed on to others that have been brought to our attention is no longer the same as what was originally said. Again, granting that the offender justifies his action and refuses to reconcile and or heed the guidance of the Church, we are not to literally take what Jesus said in 𝒗.17 “𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒂𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒏, 𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒕𝒂𝒙-𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓,” because what Jesus actually meant is that we are to treat them with sympathy and not lose hope because they can still be won, e.g. Levi and Zacchaeus.

         And finally, Jesus establishes the foundation that can impel us to forgive and bring the lost back into the fold and that is through prayer especially when there are two or more gathered in His Name. Indeed, Jesus is present in all the areas of our lives and there is no place we can hide where he is not there.

        At the end of the day, the Cross should remind us that there are no conditions to forgiveness because Jesus ransomed us even if we don’t deserve it.

         Let me end this Reflection by extending an olive branch to anyone including those in the Community whom I may have wronged, whom I may have hurt either by words that I have spoken or uttered or what I may have done – knowingly and unknowingly –  those who may have been offended by my actions, please accept my sincerest apology as I ask for your forgiveness for whatever wrong I may have done to you. God bless you all! (𝘌𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺 – 𝘈𝘶𝘨. 13, 2025)