“Listen carefully: if your brother offends you
tell him, and if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he offends you seven times in
one day, but seven times he says to you, ‘I’m sorry’, forgive him.”
-Luke 17: 3-4
There are three ideas in our Gospel: On leading others astray, Brotherly correction and Humble service. But let us focus
ourselves on the second.
It is no
longer new to me to get hurt either that be coming from a family member, a
friend, or a loved one. Surprisingly, I carry a burden each day wherein I would
even wake up and see someone who has never, never wanted, and plans not to
reconcile with anyone but I forgive those kinds of people. God loves them too.
I should not be self-righteous to proclaim that God loves me more because I do
my best to follow His commandments. I guess that’s part of life and some
people’s attitude are really like that ---- enjoying their days here on earth
to frown and to curse. Sometimes we just have to smile at them. Remember what
the famous Latin adage goes: Nemo dat
quod non habet (You cannot give what you do not have). So smile because God
gives smiles to us every day!
Jesus has
given us love, and reconciliation is part of that universal love Christ has
given to His Church. When we ask for forgiveness and give forgiveness, we are
fulfilling Jesus’ command “to love one another as He has loved us”. It’s easier
said than done. Do you think it’s easy to love your enemies if they really want
to hit you on the head? Do you think it’s easy to accept persecutions by
letting ourselves be slapped on the left and right cheeks? Do you think it’s
easy to pray for those who hate you? Do you think it’s easy to offer your
favorite food to the person you dislike? O my! (Hahaha!)
My friends,
saying sorry is showing to others that we are humble like our God who even at
the point of His death said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what
they are doing.” We have not asked for forgiveness yet but Jesus gave it. And
to the people like me who are wounded from the past and are continuously being
wounded, learn how to have a forgiving attitude. Anger will lead us nowhere! As
what Buddha reminds us: “Anger is like grasping on a hot coal with the attempt of
throwing it to someone. You are the one who gets burned”.
Always
remember: Kaya tayo nagmamahal dahil una Niya tayong minahal (We love because
he first loved us). (1 John 4:19)
Tips to a happy living:
Humingi ng tawad bilang lingkod ni Kristo (Ask
forgiveness as a servant of Christ).
Magpatawad gaya ng ibinilin ni Lord (Forgive like
how the Lord has told us to).
Magbigay ng kaligayahan sa paggawa ng mabuti (Give
joy by doing what is good).
Kaya mo iyan, kapatid! Ikaw pa!
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