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mandment by imitating the divine model
from outside; there has to be a vital participation,
coming from the depths of the heart, in the holiness and the
mercy and the love of our God. Only the Spirit by whom we
live can make ‘ours’ the same mind that was in
Christ Jesus.’4° Then the unity of forgiveness
becomes possible and we find ourselves ‘forgiving one
another, as God in Christ forgave’
us.’4’ 2843 Thus the
Lord’s words on forgiveness, the love that loves to
the end, become a living reality. The parable of the
merciless servant, which crowns the Lord’s teaching
on ecclesial commuion, ends with these words: ‘So also
my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you
do not forgive your brother from your heart.”43 It
is there, in fact, ‘in the depths of the heart’,
that every— 368 thing is bound and loosed. It
is not in our power not to feel, or to forget, an offence;
but the heart that offers itself to the Holy Spirit turns
injury into compassion and purifies the memory in trans
-forming the hurt into intercession.
2844 e extends to the forgiveness of enemies,’44
2262 transfiguring the disciple by configuring him to his
Master. Forgiveness is a high-point of e; only hearts
attuned to od’s compassion can
receive the gift of prayer. Forgiveness also bears witness
that, in our world, love is stronger than sin. The martyrs
of yesterday and today bear this witness to Jesus.
Forgiveness is the fundamental condition of the
reconciliation of the children of God with their Father and
of men with one another.’45
2845 There is no limit or measure to this essentially
divine forgiveness, whether one speaks of ‘sins’
as in Luke (i 1:4), or ‘debts’ as in
Matthew (6:12). We are always debtors: ‘Owe no
one any thing, except to love one another.”47 The
communion of the Holy Trinity is the source and criterion of
truth in every relationship. It is lived out in prayer,
above all in the Eucharist.’~8
God does not accept the sacrifice of a sower of disunion,
but commands that he depart from the altar so that he may
first be reconciled with his brother. For God can be
appeased only by prayers that make peace. To God, the better
offering is peace, brotherly concord and a people
made one in the unity of the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit.’49 |
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