We know that we have
passed out of death unto life, because we love the brethren (1 Jn.
3:14).
In order to pass
from death to life, it is fundamental to
forgive. It is very difficult to forgive, in fact, to be able to
forgive a great offence is impossible without asking the help of God.
King David was
a good man. Before Saul, his enemy, he saw beyond the law and did not
avenge himself.
He deeply
lived the "golden rule" of the ethic of all religions
inspired by God, “Do onto others as you would have them do onto
you”.
Many of us are good,
aware of the fragility of human nature: it
comes natural to be merciful, compassionate, forgiving in certain
circumstances of life.
But Jesus wants our
goodness to be the same as that of God;
He asks us the maximum, the impossible for our fragile human
condition: "Love your enemies, do
good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you ..."
.
The truth is in
the absurdity of Calvary when, at the height of the greatest
injustice, resounds a dying voice: "Forgive
them, for they know not what they do."
The wars of all
kinds, the walls, the divisions, the courts, the order of the laws
are institutions of a world that is believed true and correct, and
instead is a collection of absurdities.
Give
me Lord the warm tears of forgiveness, peace and mercy, the richness
of giving, the measure of God in every
action and so I will live Your very Own
Life.
The world continues
to dream, while You will tell us "blessed"
freeing us from "Woe to you".
- - - - - - -
An Experience of Life:
For a seemingly
trivial reason there was born a huge
misunderstanding with Ahmed, an Egyptian friend who suffered a
delicate operation and who I love as a brother.
I was unusually very
angry.
Since I had to leave
for a meeting, we met to make peace and
everything seemed resolved.
Having
returned after about a week, for some reason I could not get in touch
with him. Finally
one night I went to his house (it was the third time) and I ran
across him on a nearby street.
"I can not
forgive you – he immediately said to me -
I can do this with my enemies, because I am not really interested in
them, but I am not able to forgive the ones closest to me.
I told
him: "I ask you again for your pardon and forgiveness. It is
true, there was a misunderstanding between us.
I am not surprised that you can not forgive
me. It is normal, no man can do this. Only
God, Allah, can help us. It
is His gift that He gives us if we ask Him. If you agree, let us do
it together, praying in silence."
The road was lit and
quite popular because of its proximity to the station.
Silently we focused our concentration for a
good amount of time and we prayed to God the Father (which Ahmed
calls Allah).
When we finished he
looked at me and said: "I have forgiven you;
it is the first time that I did this immediately".
"Of course - I
replied - this time it was possible because we asked
God and He gives this to His children."
While walking
together, I also said: "Do you see, we all need to be forgiven.
In the Gospel it is written how to do it:
If you forgive little you are forgiven little, if you forgive much
you are forgiven much, if you forgive all you are forgiven all.
This is written in the Gospel and applies
to all men. Surely
there are things just as beautiful in the Koran: If you can, look for
them and show them to me".
We were full of joy.
"Listen Ahmed -
I asked - what do you think if we thank
Allah."
We again stopped and
quietly, intently, we thanked Him.
Francis C., from
"The New City"
