Rev. GEOFF KERSLAKE

is a priest of the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Ottawa.

The best-known teaching of Jesus on forgiveness is contained in the prayer common to all Christians — the “Our Father.”

When we pray the Our Father, we ask God to “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us” (cf. Matthew 6:9-13). The little word “as” is crucially important. We ask God to be as forgiving to us as we are to others who have offended us. If that doesn’t cause us to squirm uncomfortably sometimes, perhaps we haven’t been paying too much attention when we pray.

In case we missed the importance of forgiveness, Jesus explained: “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15).

But because forgiveness is a choice more than a feeling, sometimes we need the help of God’s grace to want to forgive someone who has really hurt us. But forgiving someone doesn’t mean that we condone or excuse the hurtful behaviour. It means instead that we offer to those who have hurt us the free gift of mercy.

Mercy or forgiveness frees us from the heavy burden of anger. Harbouring resentment or anger poisons us from within and robs us of the inner peace we want. So when we forgive someone, we free ourselves as well.

The greater the offence, the more important it is for us to forgive. Jesus, in forgiving those who crucified him, shows us what forgiving the unforgivable looks like when he asked God the Father: “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

If Jesus can forgive those who crucified him, with the help of God’s grace we can forgive those who have hurt us, too.