Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent
(Daniel 3:25.34-43; Matthew 18:21-35)
It is not hard to forgive a person who keeps you waiting
five minutes. “I’ve done the same thing,” the offended party will tell her/himself. But if the offense is truly immense,
forgiveness is much harder to grant. In
the movie “Dead Man Walking” a man cannot, at first, forgive his son’s
murderer. He says that he wants “strict
justice (i.e., an eye for an eye…”). As
he is about to be executed, the killer asks the man’s forgiveness. It is tacitly
given as the father attends the murderer’s funeral.
As difficult as it is to forgive in some cases, it is also
hard for many people to ask forgiveness.
They might consider themselves better than those they offended. Or perhaps they are worried that admission of
guilt will cause loss of prestige or property.
Or they may not see their action toward the other as unjust. People accused of crime should humbly consider
their actions with the help of a wise counsellor. Then, if they see themselves as guilty, they
should straightforwardly seek forgiveness.
Acknowledging offenses and asking forgiveness is a universal
challenge. We all sin. Doing so, we offend God, of course, but also harm
others and ourselves. We have the
Sacrament of Reconciliation to make amends with the Lord. Justice compels us to seek reconciliation
with offended parties as well.
