DAILY HOMILIES #unforgiveness

Who suffers more when I don’t forgive? Is it me or the one who offended me? So far, we have seen that I suffer more when I don’t forgive. Forgiveness is hard, but better than holding on to past grudges and pain. If it weren’t a better option, Jesus would not have recommended it. In today’s second reading, St. Paul says, “None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.” Remember: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked I shall return.” (Job 1:21). Make your life a blessing to others; forgive and be kind even to those who hurt you. This world is not our own; we are just passing through it.

Hatred is a sign of unforgiveness and a betrayal of our Christianity because as John says in today’s first reading: “He who says “I know him” but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him... By this we may be sure that we are in him: he who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

Hatred against another is like poison in our body system. This poison, like venom, destroys others but more importantly, it damages us by extinguishing the light of God in our hearts. To hate a person is to open your heart for the devil’s manipulation.