St. Mary Our Lady of Ransom in Georgetown shared a gospel meditation on the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, on the topic of forgiveness. 

“What right do we have to limit the amount and degree of forgiveness we show to others when we are so desperately in need of it ourselves?” the meditation stated.

The temptation to hold onto a grudge, cling to resentment or otherwise try to refuse forgiveness is a way that we try to control our environment. While we may think that it is a way to protect ourselves, we actually harm our relationship with others as well as our relationship with the Lord, the reflection stated.

“We are no longer free but tethered to all of this unresolved negativity. Don’t we really want to let it go? The fact is that we need to,” the reflection stated. 

Rather than clinging to our anger, we must be certain to think about the ways in which we have been forgiven for our shortcomings. If we believe that we are blameless and therefore can judge others, we will be sorely disappointed when we realize the error of our ways. 

“Perhaps we think that in offering forgiveness, even for the most grievous of wrongs, somehow excuses the person of their wrong and makes it almost acceptable. This is what makes revenge, retaliation and punishment so attractive,” the reflection stated. 

Forgiveness, however, does not erase the wrongdoing of a person, nor does it negate the way that their action made us feel at the time. Forgiveness, rather, is an act that shows we are not in bondage to sin. 

“It also admits that the most saintly among us is capable of doing very grave and deep harm to another person. It sees that we all can be victims of our passions and works in progress that deserve unlimited chances to get it right,” the reflection stated.

Forgiveness allows us to let go of our negativity and walk freely into the future. While not forgetting what was done to us or the ways in which we were hurt, forgiveness allows us to leave our anger in the past. 

“For the one who wants to be forgiven and the one who needs to offer forgiveness, the journey can be an adventure in learning what brought us to this place and what is needed to move forward,” the reflection stated.