“ … love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12)
In this Sunday’s Gospel Reading, Jesus taught his disciples “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)
One of the things that prevents us from truly loving one another is that we find it hard to forgive. We do not forgive even small hurts done to us. We never forget a somewhat unkind remark albeit unintentional from a good friend. We let our own imagination go wild and interpret the other kind things that the person says in the context of that unkind remark. Over time, the thorn in the heart is hurting more. The unkind remark becomes a cause of resentment against that person who is our good friend. This is the outcome of just a small hurt that can happen to anyone of us at any time. Imagine the anger, suffering and pain that a bigger hurt brings us, destroying the peace of mind and joy in our life.
But if we listen to Jesus’ teaching and follow his commandment to love one another, then we will be able to truly forgive others. No hurt can cause us resentment and take away the joy in our life. In forgiving, we set ourselves free from bitterness and hurt. We open ourselves to healing and we do not pass on the bitterness and hurt to others. This is what St. Paul wrote in his Letter to the Ephesians. “All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. (And) be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” (Ephesians 4:31-32)
While it is not easy to do, we must learn to truly forgive and practice it persistently. For it is in forgiving that we are forgiven. “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” (Mat 6:14-15)
In forgiving, we have overcome one of the human weaknesses that hinders us from loving one another and are one step closer to attaining the complete joy that Jesus promised in this Sunday’s Gospel Reading, “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)