Associated with these difficult memories is usually a person or persons who inflicted our pain. At times, just thinking of them or hearing their name can cause us to suffer. After all, they are the ones who hurt us and inflicted the wound deep within our heart. They are not affected by it, yet we feel burdened and hurt.
God does not want us to suffer or to hold onto unforgiveness. Time and time again in Holy Scripture, we are told we must forgive. “You have heard it said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those 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. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5 vs 43-48).
We are called to love and to forgive as God does. This is not something we can do on our own. We can only hope to do it by imploring God for His divine help, accepting His grace and then acting upon it.
Fr. Dwight Longenecker discovered a way to help us move in this direction: Only God can forgive sin. Since Jesus is God, and He is powerfully present in the Mass, he realized that we can find the power at Mass to forgive those who have wounded us.
When Christ died on the cross, He took upon Himself all the sins of the world – including those sins that were inflicted upon us. Jesus became a sin offering. His death is seen as payment for sin. At Mass, Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is made present, along with the merits and graces to assist us in our needs. When we attend Mass we can offer up to God those who have sinned against us, and with God’s help, find forgiveness.
Father offers us some easy steps to take: When we enter church, bless ourselves with holy water. It was the water of baptism that washed away our sins and enables us to forgive. Next, bow or genuflect, acknowledging the presence of Jesus, while looking intently at the crucifix. When seated, ask for God’s help to forgive the person with whom you are struggling and make them the intention of the Mass. Ask God to free you from any bitterness or resentment that you still hold within your heart and mind.
As Mass progresses, whenever that person comes to mind, offer them up to God. At the offertory, picture that person being brought up to be placed upon the altar. When the priest lifts up the bread and wine, imagine that person being lifted to God. Father Dwight continues, “When the priest says, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,’ see Jesus taking away the sin that is troubling you, forgiving the person who wounded you, and healing the memory of the wound you cannot forgive. Then, as you receive Communion, receive it as a sign and seal of the forgiveness you have been granted.”
This is a very powerful technique! It can and will add a new dimension to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to your life. I have used it a number of times and have experienced peace and a deep sense of wellbeing. In most circumstances, doing it one time is enough, but if the hurt is very deep, it may need to be repeated until you find peace.
During this great Jubilee Year of Mercy, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you people you need to forgive. Someone may come to mind immediately, while others may be a surprise. Some of the people you need to forgive may be alive, while others deceased. Dead or alive, it does not matter. God will work in both cases. If the person is alive, they do not need to know what you have done. This can be between you and God unless the Holy Spirit nudges you otherwise. If the person is deceased, you can speak to them from your heart and offer them your forgiveness. In all circumstances, it will begin a healing process within your own soul that will be transforming. Not only do you set the other person free, but you will be set free as well!
Let us take advantage of the multitude of graces being lavished upon us in this year of mercy. Dive deeply into the riches, graces and merits of our Lord, Jesus Christ, in the great sacrifice of the Mass and offer to God, one at a time, all the people who have hurt and harmed you. You will be imitating your heavenly Father and heading the words of Christ.
“Be merciful, just as your heavenly Father is merciful” (Lk 6 vs 36). “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Mt 5 vs 7).
Life is too short to walk around burdened by the effects of the sins that others have inflicted upon us. Jesus suffered and died so that we can be free. Live in that freedom, by offering to God the hurt and wound that has been festering in your heart. When you have brought to God all of your own wounds, begin to bring the wounds of others. Imitate the friends of the paralytic, who brought their friend to Christ. Place them on the altar and offer them to God, beseeching that He grants them peace and forgiveness.
In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, become an apostle of God’s mercy not only for yourself, but for the whole world!
Avia Joy, that is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing the advice of Fr. Dwight Longenecker. He used to be at my son's parish and now is not far from him. I will pray that God will bring someone or something to mind and try that exercise at Mass.
ReplyDelete