Mission: Forgiveness

Last week I received messages from people who are ill, and from parents of sick young people or children, thanking me for the article “The ‘Gift’ of Illness.”

Today I want to thank them for the example of peace, fortitude and wisdom their testimonies contained. That is the result of facing illness with a Christian outlook. And it is there that it is shown, with tangible facts, that when we feel weak from the hardship of illness, the strength of God can dwell in us if we let it. And that strength is very powerful and gives us Peace, because it is the strength of Love!

Something that caught my attention was that these people showed not the slightest resentment toward anything or anyone, even though some of them were terminally ill. One of the good things illness can lead us to, if we face it with a Christian outlook, is humility, and above all sensitivity to the pain of others, which leads us to be merciful to those who are suffering.

In just a few days we will celebrate the birth of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. This is a unique feast, because we remember how God became a child and lived as one of us to teach us the Way to follow in order to be happy, to the point of dying for us on a cross and so saving us from our sins.

It is very significant that one of His last sayings on the cross, in the midst of His agony, was: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And from the cross He also showed us His infinite mercy when He said to the thief who asked His forgiveness: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”

You may be asking: what does the title of this article have to do with what I am writing? Well, as we all know, we Venezuelans are living through very hard times right now. Once again we are facing Christmas with many problems, with great division and hatred, with great uncertainty and deep worry.

Fortunately, the vast majority of us Venezuelans have turned to prayer to draw closer to God, to face our problems with fortitude, to find consolation and also to ask for protection.

But we must understand very clearly that as long as we harbor even the slightest hatred or resentment in our hearts, it will be very hard for God to hear our prayers. Jesus Christ Himself says it clearly: “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23–24).

It seems that for some people forgiveness might look like a sign of weakness, both for those who must grant it and for those who must accept it. But it takes great spiritual strength, and moral courage tested in every way, to forgive not only in words but in deeds (which means making amends for the harm we have done), and also to accept forgiveness.

I believe this Mission: Forgiveness that I name in the title of today’s article is one of the most important and difficult missions to put into practice in the days, weeks and years ahead. We must understand, with all the intelligence of our minds and all the strength of our hearts, that if we do not ask forgiveness and repair all the harm we have done, with Deeds; if we do not accept forgiveness and drive the hatred out of our hearts, the wounds will keep bleeding, feeding in our children and grandchildren an endless weariness that is a source of revenge and can cause terrible harm.

This Christmas, when we see the smiling faces of all our dear Venezuelan children placing the Child Jesus in the manger, let us think about this Mission: Forgiveness, and lift up a prayer to God asking Him to help us be humble, recognize our mistakes, set right every wrong we may have done, and begin to forgive, one by one, starting with those who most need our mercy right now.

If we act this way, Peace will truly be able to reign in our hearts and in our beloved Venezuela. Merry Christmas to all!