Understanding the great importance of forgiveness still doesn’t make it easy. God knows how difficult it can be for us to forgive someone who has wronged us or hurt us. God also knows that you may not resolve everything in a short amount of time, but his grace is sufficient. He is only asking us to take a few steps toward forgiveness every day. By doing this, you will be giving him the opportunity to work miracles in your life. Here are a few small steps we can take, in response to his grace.
1) We can spend a few minutes every day looking at a cross and considering that Jesus gave up his very life to win forgiveness for us.How much effort even these little steps require! How much grace! But God has poured out the Holy Spirit to make the impossible possible. He knows that you may not resolve everything in a short amount of time, but by taking just a few steps in the right direction, you will be giving God the opportunity to work a miracle in your life. All we have to do is keep trying, knowing that the one who began a good work in us will bring it to completion.2) We can pray constantly to be filled with his perspective of love. Looking at others with eyes of mercy goes a long way toward undercutting the tendency to revenge.
3) We can pray and intercede for those who have wronged, offended, abused, or hurt us. Doing this frees us to love as God loves. God's grace has power not only to change us but also those who have done us injury as well.
4) We can try to perform at least one act of kindness toward someone who has hurt us or who rubs us the wrong way.
5) We can ask the Holy Spirit to cultivate within us an attitude of forgiveness.
6) We can get more serious about following the promptings of the Holy Spirit — especially those that touch on relationships we find difficult. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you find the way to peace, restoration, and reconciliation.
(This article by Maurice Blumberg was part of the Catholic Men’s E-zine, Being a Man of Forgiveness, (September-October 2002 issue) which is available on the NFCM website. You may e-mail them at info@nfcmusa.org. Many thanks to the The Word Among Us for allowing us to include some material from various daily meditations.)
Reflection Questions on Page 2
Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men
1. In what ways can the steps listed above help you to be a man of forgiveness?
2. Are there any additional steps you can add to the list above? Are there any that you think are not practical or realistic?
3. Develop a daily plan for yourself. What two or three steps toward forgiveness (Is there at least one?) are you willing to take each day during the next few weeks? Come prepared to share the fruits of these steps at your next men’s group meeting.
4. What additional steps can you implement in the future as part of your everyday life (over and above those previously identified)? What impact do you expect these additional steps to have on helping you to be a man of forgiveness? At a future men’s group meeting, share the impact these additional steps have had on you.
