Learn to forgive one another

by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Eph 4:29-32, RSVCE)

How you talk to other people can make a great difference between a friendly or a sour or angry retort. Many times I am not in the mood to talk to people, and the minute I say so, their attitude changes, sometimes to disappointment but mostly to anger. It is so easy to think “bug off” and it comes out as a snide remark. I know I have to watch that because I am a devout Catholic. That image of friendliness and trust goes by the wayside the minute my mood reflects something else. I know from experience that I have to be patient with all people, just as Jesus was patient with everyone.

The above Scripture quotation from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, one of the books in the New Testament, hits the mark precisely. At Baptism, we received the Grace of the Holy Spirit of God, and this grace was sealed within us. We know we have to be kind to our Sisters and Brothers, and make time for them. Always be kind and patient with other people. Do not talk down to them, meet them where they are at. You will make friends and maybe they will even learn from you. They may see in you, the love of Jesus Christ.

Adults carry within them lots of “baggage”. That baggage is mostly experiences and some of it is bad. We’ve got to learn to forgive others who (we feel) have hurt us. We also have to learn to forgive ourselves, pray for forgiveness, and then forget the matter. Too many keep thinking about sins from the past, sins that have been forgiven in Confessions from years ago, but humans have this tendency to drag it up and “rethink” the past. That’s unhealthy. Talk about this with your priest-confessor if this is an ongoing problem.

In this difficult time of the COVID-19 Pandemic, many have not been able to get to the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) for months. I’ve been away since early March this year. I yearn to have a talk with my confessor. I never used to go very often, every couple of months, but it is getting too long. And that’s true for most of us. It is good that we can now go to Holy Mass again (live), but having had Lung problems in the past, I’ve got to be cautious.

Anyway, let’s continue to stay close to Jesus and Mary and watch how we communicate with other people. 

I wish you Peace and all Good (that’s what St. Francis used to say).

Fred Schaeffer, OFS

June 5, 2020 

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