Forgiveness Can Be the Key to Happiness, Peace, and Hope

In St. Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us of the need for forgiveness and patience, two wonderful virtues when dealing with our fellow man. Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So, his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So, when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him,‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.“So, My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” (Matthew 18:21-35)

Jesus answers Peter’s question about forgiveness and then tells a parable that entails how we must be ever patient with our fellow man, and grant them forgiveness, no matter how many times they might sin against us. It doesn’t matter if we want to or not, if they are repentant then we must forgive them, regardless of how we want to do otherwise. If they are truly sorry for their sins, then God will forgive them, so must we forgive.

Forgiveness not only helps the person being forgiven, it also helps us, for if we do not forgive, then the grudge will wear us down over time and it will only hurt our souls. Holding nonforgiveness in our hearts is as bad for us as holding a grudge against an individual; it hurts our hearts, our souls, and our minds. It also goes against St.

Paul’s advice to the Ephesians to never let the sun go down while we are still angry. (Ephesians 4:26). If we hold non-forgiveness against an individual that is clearly penitent, then we are not acting like a Christian, but like the man in the parable Jesus spoke of.

So, we need to let go of our anger and hurt feelings, and do unto others as we would like them to do to us, if the roles were reversed.

The parable illustrates what happens to those who are forgiven, but are unwilling to forgive their neighbor (in this case, a debtor) for their sins and have thus abused their forgiveness from Our Lord. If we follow this person’s example, we will find ourselves in wishing we had not. Let’s not be like the man in the parable, but forgive our neighbor as we have been forgiven,

But what about forgiving ourselves for our own mistakes? If you look in the mirror and don’t like the person you see, then you need to forgive yourself, and learn how to love the person that God has made. Other people can be more forgiving than you can imagine. But you have to forgive yourself. Let go of what’s bitter and move on.

As we read in the book of Jeremiah: “No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34)

If you have repented of your sins, and asked God for forgiveness, then you are forgiven, and now you need to come to realize the power of that. You need to stop associating your past failures, with your “new creation. St Paul tells the Corinthians in his second letter: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

If God has been so good to forgive us, why should we not inform others that God can and will forgive them of all their sins. It would truly be selfish not to do so and to go against what He has commanded us to do, to proclaim the Gospel to all nations. This is why the Gospel is called the Good News, because God has forgiven us for our sins and sent His Son to die for us, that we might have eternal life. This is the ultimate forgiveness, accounting us as justified; meaning just as if we had never sinned. With the help of the Holy Spirit and our fellowship with Christ and our fellow believers, we shall not fail.

St. Paul’s Epistle and St. Matthew’s Gospel perfectly bring this message together, detailing and reinforcing one another. That message is that we have to be willing to forgive others, and tell them about God’s forgiveness, and then not commit the grave error of not forgiving others as God has forgiven us.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen