Forgive perpetrators and iron up differences: Rev Dr Turagavou
To forgive and forget is a mark of a true and faithful Christian within our human communities.
Christ uttered and demonstrated the way all Christians should follow if they want to be his ambassadors around the globe.
Methodist Church of Fiji President, Reverend Dr Semisi Turagavou in his Easter message has called on the people to forgive their perpetrators and iron up the differences in our communities.
Dr Turagavou said to forgive your neighbor from his/her wrong-doings is apparently a positive sign of creating a healthy and humane relationship within our society.
“Through this Easter session, Christ invites us to take a bold step forward and forgive your perpetrators, as you are forgiven by the reconciler of heaven and earth,” Dr Turagavou said. “Our Christian communities in Fiji are also experiencing some unhealthy relationships of the past and we need to iron-up our differences through genuine love and unwavering heart of forgiveness.
“God is always our mentor and initiator of a better future, and constantly inviting our differently communities in Fiji to consider his divine pathways of reconciliation through taking a bold step to forgive and forget the wrongdoers,” he said.
Dr Turagavou said Christ has demonstrated the way forward for building a better human community through his unconditional love and forgiveness.
He said without forgiveness, Christ would not be able to fulfil his mission on earth.
“He was tasked to redeem the whole world from its cosmic and satanic powers, and through his good and selfless heart, he was able to forgive the wrongdoers.
“We become strong and consistent in whatever we do when we take a faithful step to forgive others as we were forgiven from the cross of suffering and loneliness,” he said. Dr Turagavou said our different communities in Fiji have gone through some unhealthy and unacceptable experiences of the past. “However, some unresolved issues are still lingering with us from the past decades until today. “Unfortunately, our political and religious views seem to be stumbling blocks towards reconciliation and restoration within our human communities.
“Our neighbors in the pacific region and worldwide are also experiencing political, social and religious issues that segregate, dehumanize and diminish the value of human beings in the world.
“How can we forgive our neighbors? How can we create peace and unity within a divided community? Is the message of forgiveness relevant to our social communities in Fiji? Do we need forgiveness and reconciliation in our human communities? How can we actualize Christ’s plea from the cross about the importance of forgiveness? Let God’s will be done on earth,” he said.
“Forgive as you were forgiven”
Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father! They do not know what they are doing” [Like 23:34].
The words of Jesus, while he was hanging on the cross, with deep pain and loneliness.
The voice of a sinless and blameless person who was tortured and dehumanized before the face of the world. A divine being, who was assigned to liberate the whole world.
The one who has authority and divine powers to redeem himself from the cross of suffering, but opted to be humiliated by human authorities.
He was forced to carry his cross and be crucified with sinners.
He allows his human body to be touched, to be criticized by anybody, to be whipped by his oppositions and hanged with criminals. He was treated harshly, but endured it humbly, he never said a word like a lamb about to be slaughtered. Moreover, an innocent man who was arrested and tortured until his last breath.
His physical appearance was defaced by his fellowcountry men.
Above all, he was blamed as a law-breaker and his core message segregates people and their belief-systems.
However, from all negative stories level against the son of God, he sincerely and bravely asks the father to forgive his enemies.