How the Evil One relishes in his ability to engage our memory by recalling a hurt or injury that was afflicted upon us. He will tempt us time and time again, to play it over and over in our minds, until it is once again festering and the pain is acute.
He wants to keep us in this trap because he does not want what is best for us. He is the master of deceit and division and will convince us that this is just where we should be – stuck in the rut of abomination. He will whisper in our ears to hit the replay button so we can relive our experience, till we are convinced of our righteousness and the way we have been wronged. He wants us to hold on to unforgiveness and not even entertain the idea of seeking reconciliation.
If we have forgiven or are considering forgiving our offender, Lucifer will bring the situation back to our consciousness. He wants us to see just how foolish we were – or would be -- to attempt such an act. He will do his best to hold us prisoner in this cell of hate. The truth is, the devil is lonely and wants company. He lost his place in paradise and wants to make sure we do as well.
“Put on the armor of God that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens” (Eph. 6 vs. 11-12).
St. Paul wants to make it clear to us just who our real enemies are. Satan and his minions will do what they can to deceive us into believing that it is everyone else but them. Do not give them that power over you!
In the area of forgiveness, our Lord, Jesus Christ, paved the way to show us just how to overcome this great temptation. “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for these who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes His sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5 vs. 44-45, 48).
In other words, Jesus is calling us to pray over and over again if needed, “Bless them; change me.”* This is for the good of our souls and for our own freedom. Making this prayer our own, will keep us from inhabiting the prison to which the Evil One want to banish us.
This is not an easy thing for us to do, but very it is vital for the life of our souls. Our good God will pour down the graces upon us to help us to move toward forgiveness, but we need to be open to this gift. There may be times in our lives, when our minds cannot even fathom the idea of forgiveness. At those times we can ask God to give us the desire to want to forgive. Forgiveness does not mean negating the harm that was afflicted upon us, but not allowing it to consume us and eat us alive!
When we forgive one another, God’s grace is released and His peace can begin to fall upon us and through us. This grace actually begins the healing process that will restore the serenity and joy that God lavishly bestows upon us.
Alexander Pope said it many years ago, “To err is human; to forgive, divine.” There is no better way that we can imitate our heavenly Father than by forgiving those who have harmed us. “God proves His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5 vs. 8).
Jesus Himself forgave His persecutors, right from the cross saying, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23 vs. 34).
Do not allow the devil to poison your soul with the rusty arrow of disparaging thoughts of hate and vengeance, which will rob you of your identity as a child of God. Instead, imitate your heavenly Father by “loving your enemies, by praying for those who persecute you” and by repeating the words, “Bless Them: Change Me.”
Let us beg and beseech St. Francis of Paola, to intercede for us incessantly, to receive this great grace from God.
*Bless Them; Change Me – posted August 26, 2014
How true your words are Avia Joy! "Bless them; change me" is well worth adapting as a mantra!
ReplyDelete