A great man knows how to forgive.

One of the signs of a person’s greatness is how quickly they can forgive others. There is probably not a person among us who does not have an angry person in his life. Maybe even as children we had such an experience. A friend or classmate got angry with us. He avoided us and maybe didn’t want to talk to us at all. How many of us have had this experience later? Perhaps even today, we came to the temple with a heavy heart for our neighbor. Let us remember that our God wants to forgive each of us. But be careful! Jesus tells us today: “Forgive and you will be forgiven” (Lk 6:37b). Jesus speaks very openly in his speech. However, forgiveness should not be just so that a person can also be forgiven at the end of his life.

It is said that a group of theologians once met in England and discussed for hours how (if at all) Christianity differs from other religions in its essence, which Christian teaching has no parallel in other religions… They could not find an answer until finally the well-known thinker CS Lewis arrived belatedly and answered the question without hesitation: “That’s easy. Forgiveness of sins.” But not only the forgiveness of sins on the part of God, but also the forgiveness of transgressions between people.

Even unintentional injuries must be forgiven. Forgive each other, because it is difficult to live in tension with a feeling of forgiveness. You will surely agree with me that a person who cannot forgive is in a way a slave to the other person. When we carry forgiveness, we cannot concentrate on anything, we are nervous, literally impossible. We try to avoid the latter and wish him no good. Well, is that right? Not. Therefore, at this moment, let’s try to imagine a person whom we cannot forgive. Whom we can’t stand and who, if he does anything, gets on our nerves. Let us imagine him and bless him in spirit. Let us often bless him in our spirit and pray for him. We pray for forgiveness. Because forgiveness is a miracle eraser – a chemical that causes everything that has happened to be erased. The pain may remain, the inability to meet the person as well, but to wish another good, to pray for him, to bless him, to try to love him – all this leads to forgiveness. It is very sad when parents and children or siblings do not talk to each other in a family.

Therefore, let us realize today that we are together on this Earth for only a few years. Maybe just a few more days and we will never be able to say to the other person: “Please, forgive me, forgive me.” Therefore, let’s ask for strength and courage at this Holy Mass – so that we can always forgive the other person as soon as possible.