“DO NOT BE AFRAID TO PROFESS FORGIVENESS”
This month I read another book in the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith, Precious and Grace. The setting is in Botswana, Africa. Mma Ramotswe, our chief lady detective, is attending church. She looks up at the ceiling high above her in the new cathedral where the electric fans stir the air so ineffectively. Her attention is drawn down immediately when she hears the bishop say the word “forgiveness”.
The bishop speaks: (abbreviated) “Somebody asked me the other day when we should start teaching our children about forgiveness. I was surprised by the question because I think that forgiveness is one on the first things. Forgiveness is at the heart of the way we live our lives—or should be. So when we teach our children about the things they need to know about the world--about how not to touch fire, about how to wash their hands or put on their shoes, about where Africa is or Botswana---all these things, we should also remember to teach them about forgiveness. When another person wrongs us, be ready to forgive. If we do not forgive them, we run the risk of being eaten up alive with hatred inside, hatred is like acid……..
The bishop continues. “Yet who talks about forgiveness these days other than the people who come to this place, or to places like this? What politician, what public person, do we hear standing up and saying that we must forgive? The message is more likely to be one of blame, holding this person or that person to account. It is a message of retribution, sometimes dressed up in concern about victims and public safety. But if you do not forgive, what are you achieving? When we punish somebody, we are often just punishing ourselves. Locking people away is simply increasing the amount of suffering in the world. Sometimes you have to do it to protect people from harm, but you should remember there are other ways of changing a man’s ways.
“My brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to profess forgiveness. Do not be embarrassed to say that you believe in love, and that you believe that water can wash away the sins of the world, and that you are prepared to put this message right at the heart of your world. Love and forgiveness are more powerful than those cynical, mocking words and will always be so. Always.”
Thinking about forgiveness has reminded me of Jesus’ last words on the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” This statement is given as the first of the seven reported last words on the cross. I pray that we may all love more and therefore forgive.
John Greenleaf Whittier wrote, “Dear Lord and Father of mankind, forgive our foolish ways, reclothe us in our rightful minds, in purer lives thy service find, in deeper reverence, praise.“
Amen
Martha Casey
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