Forgive others as Jesus forgave us
Kimmi Martin
Reflections of a Nice Girl
In a recent bible study group, we discussed the story of "The Lost Son," also known as "The Prodigal Son." This is the parable in the gospel of Luke that details the life of a young man who squandered his inheritance on prostitutes and other frivolous things. Upon his return home, with nothing left, his father welcomed him back with open arms. He forgave his youngest son without condition or hesitation.
Although I had heard this parable many times, it wasn't until recently that I thought about what it had to do with me. What does it mean for all of us today? Even though it was written centuries ago, its purpose is timeless.
It is human nature to release emotions when something has affected us deeply. Whether we are moved to tears of joy or sorrow, our minds seldom forget that initial feeling of what moved us in the first place. This is applicable to our relationships with others. The majority of us function in a world where we build relationships on trust.
The relationship we have with our parents is also based on trust. From birth, we were taught that with unacceptable behavior, certain consequences result. It may take a lot of begging, washing dishes, sorting laundry and other tasks to "get back in good graces." Time heals all wounds, right? If this is human nature, then why did Jesus find it necessary to tell us the story of a father who forgave so easily?
Take close friends for example. Real friendships develop over time. A close friend has hurt us at some point in our lives. Many of us have been hurt by the same friend many times. Sometimes we forgive, sometimes we do not. Rarely do we forget. If the friend were truly sorry for their actions, and wanted to re-enter into a loving relationship, is it the Christian thing to make that road back as difficult as possible? Is it the Christian thing to extend our arms without condition or hesitation? Should we strive to be like that forgiving father?
This same parable mentions the eldest son as one who dedicated his life to serving his father. He too was a recipient of his father's wealth. Instead of spending all of his money, like his brother, he continued to serve his father and never disobeyed him. Upon hearing the news that his father was rejoicing because of the younger brother's return, the eldest brother grew angry and critical.
Often we want credit for things that we should be doing in the first place. We often want to be rewarded for deeds that are respectful and "morally right." Along with this desire to be recognized comes a criticism of those who stray from the path that is accepted. We question, like the brother, rewarding people whom we think should not be rewarded. Is criticizing and judging others based on our standards the morally right thing to do?
Perhaps the answer lies in treating people with that golden rule we learned in the first grade: `Treat others the way you want to be treated.' Perhaps we should view each other's sins as equal. One person's sin should not be viewed as bigger then our own. In the end, God judges us all and does not discriminate. I do not believe that He is selective in determining sin. I do not believe there is some big contest at the end of the world called "Who's the biggest sinner."
Perhaps this is why Jesus died for all of us. Perhaps this is why it is so easy for the Lord to forgive us. We all make mistakes, yet He always welcomes us back with open arms and no questions asked — without condition or hesitation.
I certainly understand the difficulty in forgiving those who may have hurt us deeply. I struggle with the question of "well, they did it once, they'll probably do it again." It is hard to release pain. It is hard to forgive people we sometimes think should not be forgiven. But who are we to judge?
Easter is certainly not that far away. This is the time that we should reflect on our own actions as well as the actions of others. Perhaps it is within our human nature to forgive others as Jesus forgave us.
When you feel as though someone has betrayed you, it feels like disregarding that person is the easiest thing to do. You may not speak anymore; you may not even see each other anymore. How easy it is to sweep something, or someone, under the carpet. But, they are still there. That feeling inside of you, that voice from within, that might be someone asking for forgiveness. When you keep so much hate and anger bottled up inside of you, it can literally feel like it is eating you alive.
Forgiveness is not just for the person who wants to be forgiven. It is also for the person who forgives. Whichever person we may be, we are all equal in spite of our faults. We are all judged and we are all forgiven, without condition or hesitation. Perhaps now is the time to extend this same grace to those around us. Perhaps they may need it.
Perhaps we do too.
Kimmi Martin is a senior at Saint Mary's. Her column appears every other Wednesday.
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.
All Viewpoint Stories for Wednesday, March 29, 2000
