How many times you have heard people say, “How can I bring myself to forgive him/her?” or “How can I forget what he/she did to me?” Many others emphatically say, “I will not reconcile with him/her.” These words try to capture a past experience in the lives of many people today that left them deeply wounded. There are people today who ask with a degree of doubt in their hearts whether God can still forgive them for the harm they cause others and themselves. The depth of God’s love is clearly revealed to us in the story of the ‘prodigal son’ we read during this season of Lent. God loves us unreservedly; sent Jesus to save us from the power of sin; and if we show genuine repentance God definitely takes us back. God forgives us and never counts our sins against us. We are destined for salvation through the mystery of Jesus’ passion and we have been delivered from the power of sin and death.
Likewise we must reconcile with one another. We must avoid causing painful emotional or/and physical wounds to others. But when we inflict harm and cause pain to others, we have the power to make amends and seek reconciliation. If we are sincerely sorry for the harm we have done, it goes a long way to heal the pain of our misstep. There are many wounded hearts all around us that will experience healing if we say ‘I am sorry’ and repair the harm we have done to them. The father of the ‘prodigal son’ was wounded by his son’s decision to leave home and estranged himself from his family. But his return and sincere expression of contrition brought healing to him and his father. His father forgave him by throwing a feast in his honor. This is the road we all should be wiling to go: repentance, forgiveness and healing.
Many people today are seeking and praying for peace of mind and the spirit of reconciliation with those who caused them harm and those they have hurt. People come to the Shrine praying that through the intercession of St. Jude, they can muster the courage to make amends for their wrongdoing and bring to themselves and their loved ones lasting peace of mind and healing. A lot of families and friends have seen their relationships destroyed by pride, anger and cold and inflexible hearts. As apostles of the Gospel, when things go wrong in our relationships, we should be willing to seek the path of reconciliation. If we are sincerely sorry for the wrong done, it brings healing to wounded hearts. ‘I am sorry’ soothes angry hearts and forgiveness amends strained relationship. Let us reconcile with one another for God always forgives us and makes us ministers of reconciliation (2Cor. 5:18).
Father Ferdinand Okorie, C.M.F.
National Shrine of St. Jude
Chicago, Illinois
the hurts are deep anjd p;iercing it takes mucheffort to forgive and find peace of mind. BUT IT MUJST BE DONE
I, too, pray many times daily that those I’ve hurt will forgive me; also pray to forgive those who have hurt me. Asking for forgiveness is difficult, but not impossible. Having done so, I strongly recommend this course of reconciliation. However, in one case in particular, I find myself asking for forgiveness and then committing the same offense against them, again and again. It is profoundly troubling. I pray and pray and pray; think and think and think. It is now to the point that I’m so ashamed ofmyself that to say I’m sorry and ask for forgiveness once again, well, I wonder just how many times one human can forgive another. In all other areas my life is better and I feel the peace that have been longing for. Just this one situation. Please pray for me. Thank You
I have come to accept that carrying this baggage of hurt, does not make me a better person, it has affected my husband and his family emotionally. I finally came to terms with myself to let go and let GOD. It has saved my marriage of 19yrs and has regained the happiness of my husband’s family, my husband and myself. Thank you JESUS, AMEN.
I pray daily that those I have hurt will forgive me. I have learned to make amends and ask for forgiveness.
My life is so much better and I am filled with gratitude and peace.