A Story
A man has been fighting for decades with his neighbor. One day he was getting older, sick and almost died. Without thinking, his wife took the initiative to reconcile her husband with her neighbor.
But she did not dare to speak directly to her husband and neighbor. She contacted a cleric who lived across the street from her home. “Please, father, my husband almost died. Let’s come to pray for him and reconcile him with his next-door neighbor,” she asked.
The cleric came and persuaded her husband to make peace with his neighbor. However, it seems the effort will end in vain. Finally came the idea of the cleric to bring the two together.
The neighbor came. No shame or pride, he stretched out his hand. Humbly, he said, “I’m sorry, sir, let’s make peace. Forget what’s gone.”
Embarrassed with the monk and his neighbor and his own wife, the man with cold hands reached out his hand. All being relieved. The hostility has ended with peace.
When the cleric and the neighbor asked to leave as they stepped out the door, the man rose from helplessness. He sat on the bed, raised his fist and shouted, “Remember, this peace applies only when I die.”
Reflection
An emotional wound was not so easy to treat. Even with a peace and apology from a deep heart. The story above shows this. People want to forgive, but on tough terms. Is not this what a believer should avoid? Should not a believer have to forgive and forgive others with all his hearts?
One day a disciple of Jesus asked him how many times he should forgive his erroneous brother. Jesus answered, “Up to seventy times seven times.”
The disciple was surprised. For him, he could not be so patient for so long. He has a human heart. It’s hard to let his brother keep making mistakes. It turns out the forgiveness offered by God is a complete, infinite pardon, and unconditional.
As believers, we want to try to be able to forgive others without limit. We do not want to give the terms of forgiveness. We also want to forgive each other sincerely. There is no hate or grudge that we keep in our hearts. We want to wholeheartedly forgive our neighbors. Thus, our hearts become safe and secure. Our lives become peaceful.
Frans de Sales SCJ
