"...Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us..."

Published by Published on

 


Forgiveness of others is a prerequisite to salvation. Living in a world that has become a victim of sinfulness, it does not take long before one realizes they have been wronged in some manner. Despite the hurt, God calls us to overcome the hurt with forgiveness. Indeed, not just in a small way, but in the ways we would have ourselves be forgiven (cf. Matthew18:23-35 _RSVCE_). The more we realize what causes us to act the way we do, the more we can understand why someone might hurt us. In the measure we forgive, we are forgiven.

If one were to summarize all of Christ’s universal commands in the Gospel, they would assert, “Love as God does”. However, “God is love”(1 John 4:8). Love is not a second thought to God but is His essence. We have become sinful but are no less called to be like Him.[1] Our lives should be lived for love and compassion alone.[2] Unforgiveness is incongruous to love.[3] This merciful love should come from the depths of the heart and should spare nothing.[4] Indeed, we cannot presume our forgiveness if we don’t ourselves forgive (cf. Matthew 18:23-35).

to conculde, we don’t accept our salvation when we would refuse it to another. “If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.”(1 John 4:20). Truly if we would judge our neighbor like Jesus expects us to, we would not rend punishment but mercy(cf. Matthew 7:1-5). We must be able to forgive ourselves and realize our sinfulness in the wake of sins committed against us (cf. Matthew 18:23-35).[5] If we would wish to spend our eternity with God and those He has forgiven, why should we not expect to see those who hurt us also there? If we truly would have the “Our Father” realized and answered, we must be willing to accept its implications.[6]

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, Have mercy on me a sinner."

To what extent? Click Here

FN:

  1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. (Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference, 2000), 2842.
  2.  Cf. CCC, 2842, 2845.
  3.  CCC, 2840.
  4. CCC, 2843.
  5. CCC, 2838.
  6. CCC, 2838.

I am a Theology major attending Holy Apostles College and Seminary. I am a Knight of Columbus and a Newman Ambassador for Pius XII Newman Center.

Most Viewed Posts

Divorce: Rupture of the Highest Human Communion

Published by Published on
Image
Building from  Commandments Toward Communion , and the Series on Love. Undoubtedly, in a culture where individualism is so esteemed, it is no wonder divorce rates soar and discussion of its immoral nature is avoided.[1] Whether we are discussing an indissoluble marriage or a friendship, division is not the will of God, because the closer the relationship the greater damage a rupture of communion brings. Divorce, producing preeminently negative effects, is a rupture of the foundational communion essential for society and the formation of children in love/holiness, severing the highest and most complete communion material man is capable of, and undermining the dignity of man, which rests above all on the fact that he is called to communion. First, divorce is a rupture of the foundational communion essential for society, severing the highest, most complete communion amid material man. Marriage (between a man and woman) is the most profound union that human beings can achieve, because huma
Click Here to Continue Reading This Post

Irascible Love and Its Necessity

Published by Published on
Image
You may look at the first word in the title and think, "Now I know he isn't speaking English". I would say that isn't entirely false, because I have only seen Aquinas use it, but he had a way of naming/applying terms well. The irascible power is a power of the soul that deals with overcoming obstacles and difficulties, fortitude is the habit of appropriately using this power. This power is the other side of the coin of the concupiscible power, which is oriented towards seeking pleasure and avoiding pain, the irascible power is concerned with resisting and overcoming challenges that impede the pursuit of good. It includes passions such as hope, daring, fear, despair, and anger, which are directed towards arduous or difficult (accomplishing/obtaining) goods and (avoiding) evils. What is irascible love then? Irascible love is the kind of love we need to truly love well because the full gift of self (in ways not-directly/inherently-biological) is found nowhere else than i
Click Here to Continue Reading This Post

The Levels of Evangelization

Published by Published on
Image
"For the Church, evangelizing means bringing the Good News into all the strata of humanity , and through its influence transforming humanity from within and making it new: "Now I am making the whole of creation new." But there is no new humanity if there are not first of all new persons renewed by Baptism and by lives lived according to the Gospel." [1] This quote establishes two things, 1) what we have meant by "evangelization" and 2) what it concerns i.e. the whole person. The quote we ended with in the New Evangelization  said we must "seek by every means to study how we can bring the Christian message to modern man". Each level we are about to distinguish between has mostly to do with employing the most effective means for the audience. This audience-specific methodology is how one goes about doing their best to "pass on" not only the faith but life in Christ. It would seem there are four distinctions worth mentioning in the way of
Click Here to Continue Reading This Post