To love again

According to some health-related sites, forgiveness has miracle effects to the human body. When we forgive, we prevent the early onset of depression and anxiety.

It can lower our blood pressure.

It can strengthen our immune system.

It can help us develop a healthy heart.

In the New Testament Greek, the word for forgiveness is ἄπειμι apeimi which literally means “to let go.”

Similarly beautiful usage of the word is found in the Hebrew bible, particularly in the book of Psalms.

In Psalm 25, it is used as נָשָׂא or Nasa; meaning to “lift up.”

In Psalm 78 it is used as כָּסָה kasha or Kophar; meaning to “cover up.”

In Psalm 103, it is used as שָׁלַח Salach; meaning to “send away.”

In our First Reading, images could be employed to refer our unwillingness to forgive.

It is a burden, and a baggage we carry. Such is the case when we choose not to forgive. We get to carry the burden over the fault committed against us by the person who owes us. We carry the burden and pain ourselves.

A Rebellious House. When we choose not to forgive, we become restless and aghast. When there is no reconciliation we live in despair, hatred, and even fear and anxiety. Fear of being aggrieved again haunt us. The plot to retaliate will always occupy our superior grey matter. There will always be a restlessness in us.

A Vanishment or exile. The choice of not forgiving imprisons us and takes away our freedoms from us. It also isolates us and make us suffer the pain of being aggrieved by ourselves. We choose to close doors for love to come in.

A Road to darkness. When we choose not to forgive we become blinded by the pain caused us and the vow for retaliation. In this, we really miss the point of living and loving.

In our Gospel today, we are invited to choose to love again. To forgive is to choose to love again. That is to love ourselves one again after choosing hatred and pride over ourselves. This also includes choosing to love God again more freely. When we lay down our hatred and pains and to really forgive, we have more time to love God.

Lastly, to love again the aggressor or our transgressor. It may sound unpopular but to love who wronged us flows from our love of ourselves and from our love of God.

Thus, over all, we choose to love without selection once again. In forgiving, we love without filter of screening. We simply love without hesitation and doubt. Loving without hesitation or being selective is the power of God.

Are you ready to love again?

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1st Reading – Ezekiel 12:1-12

The word of the LORD came to me:

Son of man, you live in the midst of a rebellious house; they have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.

Now, son of man, during the day while they are looking on, prepare your baggage as though for exile, and again while they are looking on, migrate from where you live to another place; perhaps they will see that they are a rebellious house.

You shall bring out your baggage like an exile in the daytime while they are looking on; in the evening, again while they are looking on, you shall go out like one of those driven into exile; while they look on, dig a hole in the wall and pass through it; while they look on, shoulder the burden and set out in the darkness; cover your face that you may not see the land, for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel. I did as I was told. During the day I brought out my baggage as though it were that of an exile, and at evening I dug a hole through the wall with my hand and, while they looked on, set out in the darkness, shouldering my burden.

Then, in the morning, the word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, did not the house of Israel, that rebellious house, ask you what you were doing?

Tell them: Thus says the Lord GOD: This oracle concerns Jerusalem and the whole house of Israel within it. I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them; as captives they shall go into exile.

The prince who is among them shall shoulder his burden and set out in darkness, going through a hole he has dug out in the wall, and covering his face lest he be seen by anyone.

Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 78:56-57, 58-59, 61-62

R. (see 7b) Do not forget the works of the Lord!

Gospel – Matthew 18:21-19:1

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?”Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants.

When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt.

At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.

When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt.

Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.

Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt.

So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.” When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.