There is a story about a world-weary elderly man after the time of the French Revolution who was reduced to begging at the church doors. One day a young priest approached him, gave him a cloak and invited him to his home. After several days the beggar agreed and spent many days receiving the care and hospitality of his new friend.
Eventually, through this priest's witness, the man decided to come back to the church, tearfully confessing to the priest that he had betrayed the family he had worked for as a young man, handing them over to the authorities, and all but the youngest child were sent to the guillotine.
After telling the priest his story, the man lifted his eyes and saw on the wall a portrait of the very family he had betrayed. He asked where the painting came from, and the young priest, with tears in his eyes, said that this was his family. He was the youngest child. Everyone else had been executed during the Revolution. Uttering the words of absolution, the priest added, "and I forgive you as well. Be at peace." (The Word Among Us, August 2010, p.32)
In Matthew 18's story of the unforgiving slave Jesus makes no bones about our need to forgive: "So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you [hand us over to be dealt with until our debt is cleared], if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."
Peter asks Jesus if he must forgive as many as seven times, but Jesus says, "seventy-seven times". That comes strangely close to how often we would like to inflict revenge on those who wrong us. Sometimes our hearts are very "old testament".
There is no wiggle room! Let's face it; most of us have not been wronged as grievously as the young priest in the above story. With God's help we can forgive. The great thing about forgiveness is that it brings life - like it did to the "world weary elderly man" above. It definitely brings life to the one who forgives.
Imagine a different ending to the story; imagine the young priest torn up with hatred and revenge. Instead, his state is blessed; he has the heart of Christ in him as he passes on God's peace. He is moved to tears. And his story moves us. How can we not be merciful to our brothers and sisters in much smaller things?
