Always Forgive? And Everyone?

One of the hardest things in this life is forgiving our enemies, above all when it comes to terrible things like forgiving the murderer or rapist of a child, someone who robs us and leaves us bankrupt, someone who has us jailed unjustly, and so on. And it is true that the healthiest thing is for our hearts to hold no grudge, and that we must always forgive everyone; but it is also true that justice exists here on earth for a reason, a justice that should be beyond reproach and punish those who do evil. Because forgiving, and not feeling hatred in our hearts, is one thing; that person paying for their wrongs with a just punishment here on earth is another.

But what we really do need to sit down and reflect on seriously, above all at this time when so much hatred and division is in the air in our beloved Venezuela (as we can see every day on social media), is that no one should take part in hatred and wickedness. All those we see slandering, insulting, harming or mistreating others, or ourselves, we must forgive, because, as Jesus Christ said, “they know not what they do.” And deep down what we should feel for them is compassion, because, as Saint Thomas More said, everyone who does wrong realizes, when he lays his head on the pillow, the harm he has done, and it is very hard for him to sleep in peace.

What is very important is that we do not fill ourselves with rage and wish others ill, because we would fall into the same hole they are in. And do you know the best way not to wish anyone ill (however bad and perverse they may be)? To pray for that person: to pray that they ask forgiveness and become a good person, and above all that when their hour of death comes they may win the prize of eternal life. Such is the hatred in the air in our country that I have come across people to whom I say we must pray for those who are doing wrong to be converted and reach Heaven if they die, and they answer: “Honestly, I don’t care where they end up.”

Well, we must care, and care a great deal! Because every person is precious in God’s eyes, because Christ gave his life for each of us and came to save us all. As Christians we must want everyone, however much evil they do, to be converted and enjoy God’s love. And the pain and suffering of others, because of their distance from God, should hurt our hearts. As Saint Faustina Kowalska (the Apostle of Divine Mercy, whose feast we celebrated last Sunday) said, she felt tremendous pain when she saw the sufferings of her neighbor; all her neighbor’s pains echoed in her heart, she carried their anguish within her to the point that it wore her down physically, and she wished all those pains could fall on her to relieve her neighbor.

Because, in the end, human beings are made for love and not for hatred. And if you don’t believe me, try an experiment for a few days: start wishing your enemies conversion and good, and you will see how your heart fills with a peace you won’t be able to put into words.

So every time we see someone insulting, ranting, committing blasphemous acts, slandering, mistreating, stealing, killing and so on, let us not wish them ill in word or thought. Let us start praying for that person (whatever prayer we know) and tell, or shout to!, God that their heart may soften and that they may become someone who realizes the harm they have done or are doing, and who will themselves ask to pay for their wrongs through justice, here on earth.

Because when we forgive, we are the ones who benefit most. If we live in a spirit of forgiveness and prayer (starting at home), our lives will immediately become more joyful, more serene and more positive, however many problems we are going through. In short, we will manage to live in Peace with ourselves and make life more pleasant for others.

And if our prayers do not bring about the change or conversion of the person who harms us, at least we will sleep very peacefully, because we were able to rise above that rotten mud of hatred, resentment and the desire for revenge. So let us forgive everyone, not just seven times, but seventy times seven!