Posted by The WORD in other words (2006) by Father Pablito Tagura SVD – Christ the King Seminary, Quezon City
Tuesday 3rd Week of Lent
Concrete lessons in forgiveness are far more powerful than mere words. Who can forget St. John Paul II visiting Mehmet Ali Agca, the man who shot him, in a Roman prison? He spent 21 minutes with his would-be assassin, gave him a rosary, and offered his forgiveness. Or Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago, falsely accused of abuse, who later flew to Philadelphia to forgive his accuser, Steven Cook, gifting him a Bible and even celebrating Mass with him.
Above all, nothing compares to Jesus on the cross, saying: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
Forgiveness is not only a spiritual command; it is also a human necessity. Clinical psychology shows that unforgiveness — bitterness, anger, hostility, resentment, fear — harms both soul and body. It raises blood pressure, disrupts hormones, weakens immunity, and even impairs memory. Forgiveness, on the other hand, reduces stress and strengthens social bonds, which are vital for health and happiness.
Jesus calls us to imitate the forgiving master in today’s parable. St. Paul reminds us: “Love keeps no record of wrongs” (1 Corinthians 13:5). The true test of Christian faith is our readiness to forgive. God does not demand perfection but sincerity. He knows how complicated life is, how difficult it is to always do good. What He values most is our honest effort, our courage to rise again after we fall.
Confucius once said: “The wisdom of life is not that you have never fallen, but that every time you fall, you have the courage to get up and start all over again.”
Life is full of choices, and we do not always make the right ones. But God loves goodness more than perfection. He cherishes our struggle to do good, even with flaws. If God could not love imperfect people, He would be very lonely — because imperfect people are all there are.
If we cannot accept and forgive others in their imperfections, we condemn ourselves to frustration and loneliness. Forgiveness is not weakness; it is liberation. It restores relationships, heals wounds, and makes God’s love visible in our lives.
Forgiveness is the heart of the Gospel. It frees us, heals us, and makes us whole. To forgive is to live as Christ lived, to love as Christ loved.
“Lord, give me the grace to forgive as You forgive. Teach me to let go of resentment, to embrace others in their weakness, and to find peace in Your mercy.”
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