Pastor's Spiritual Reflections

By Fr. Leo Schneider (06/17/2007)

Dear People of Holy Name,

The Gospel this Sunday highlights the connection between love and forgiveness. Jesus points out that those who love little forgive little and those who forgive little, love little. If we have trouble forgiving those who have hurt us, it is because it is hard for us to love them in our pain. The challenge for us is to love like Christ and to forgive those who "know not what they do."

To forgive does not mean we are denying hurt or injustice done to us. We must be honest about that and let it teach us how to take care of ourselves in the future. However, by not forgiving, we hang on to our anger which may keep us tied to a pattern of thinking and behavior that lead us to more hurtful interactions with others. Our anger may make us distrustful of others when we should trust, thus building our life support and self-image.

Somehow we need to find the self-confidence to rise above our pain. Doing so takes away the power of those who hurt us. We put them into perspective and realize we can rise above their limitations. It may also put us in the position to be their healer. Jesus heals us and forgives us our weakness and sin. When we do the same we are being like him, and find ourselves filled with his Spirit, which brings its own reward of unspeakable inner peace.

Forgiveness is not easy and takes time. As we unite ourselves to Jesus and find our support and strength in him and in his church, we grow in our ability to forgive, gain perspective and love those who hate us or who have hurt us out of their own pain.

Realizing that others hurt us out of their weakness can help us. It doesn’t mean that what they may have done is ok; it means that we understand they didn’t have the ability then to act in a better way. We can even pray for them that they will grow and heal from their own pain. Much of what people suffer is handed down from generation to generation. Such is the definition of Original Sin. The grace of Jesus Christ is given to us in faith to overcome this pattern of sin.

Lastly we may also want to recognize that we may be in need someday of the gift of forgiveness. None of us are perfect and we hurt others without knowing. Perhaps someone else’s willingness to forgive will call us to a new self, or if we come upon a moment of self-realization we will find in others the same mercy the woman found in Jesus, a God longing to share his love with us and make us whole. No shame required, just a willingness to share love.

Let us pray for the gift of forgiveness in our lives, both for those who have hurt us and for those we have hurt. May the Lord of our gospel grant us his grace to love as he loves, making us whole that we may praise the goodness of Christ in all things.

May the Lord bless us and heal us!

In Christ Peace, Fr. Leo