Ascension : News From The Grotto - Thought Of The Week
Submitted by The Islander (Shari Parkhill) 22.02.2007 (Article Archived on 08.03.2007)

This week, in the gospel according to Luke, we hear the story of turning the other cheek.

This week, in the gospel according to Luke, we hear the story of turning the other cheek.  We’ve all heard this one before, where Jesus says to His disciples:: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those that curse you, pray for those who treat you badly.” 

                Noble instructions indeed, but every one of us knows how difficult this truly is in practice.  When people hurt us, our first instinct is to hurt them back.  Even if we don’t do anything outright, either out of fear, or even a basic belief in this teaching, we still tend to harbour ill feelings towards the person who hurt us.  

                We’ve all heard from all the self-help gurus out there about how forgiveness is the key to finding our inner peace.  True, certainly, but not easy to attain.  How does one go about forgiving someone who has done great harm to them?  If we follow God’s teachings, it’s easy to let the small things go.  We all know how when faced with unkindness, and bad behaviour, if you smile and treat the person as if nothing happened, it can be hard for them to understand.  A small consolation in itself, I suppose, that their bad actions haven’t resulted in a similar response in oneself.  Doing good to one who hurts us often confuses them.  They expect the same behaviour from us that they have meted out. 

                However, when the grievance is severe, it is not easy to forgive.  We all know that.  For many, it is a lifelong struggle to find this forgiveness.  There is a saying: “forgive and forget”.  While I agree with the forgive part, I’m not so sure about the forget bit.  Sometimes we need to remember what has happened, so we can guard against it happening again.  Another favourite adage:  “To forget the past is to doom one to repeat it”, or something to that effect.  So, we need to find it in our hearts to forgive those who have hurt us, but remember to be strong and not let it happen again.

                So, in the struggle to find this forgiveness, what tools do we have to help us?  God’s instructions, given to us by Jesus, hold the key.  “Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate.  Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will be pardoned.”  By granting pardon to those who have wronged us, we will receive a pardon ourselves.  We have all probably done something in our lives that has caused others pain.  Sure, it may not be on the same scale as some hurts, but none of us are perfect, and have something to ask forgiveness for. 

                As we approach the Lenten season, forgiveness is a topic that comes up often.  We have to ask for forgiveness, and equally important, we have to grant forgiveness.  How can we ask for what we can’t find in our own hearts?  No matter how difficult, we have to find the strength, the compassion, and the love to pardon those who have caused us pain.  It isn’t easy, it might be one of the most difficult things we can do, but the reward will be an inner peace, and the ability to move on. 

                Towards the end of the gospel reading we are told to give, because the amount we measure out is the amount we are given back.  I think that it is even more, whatever we give, will be returned to us in an even greater measure.  When we truly forgive, we receive a measure of peace that far outweighs it.  When we find the strength to truly forgive, the peace that will settle in our heart will bring a contentment that will enable us to move on, and live our lives unencumbered by the burdens of anger and hate.