24. Forgive
“Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us” How many times have we prayed these words of the Our Father? If we forgive, this prayer is a promise of mercy, but, if we don't, we condemn ourselves. This episode of Physically Spiritual will explore the idea of forgiveness.
Video Version
Audio Version
Timestamps
2:15 What is Forgiveness?
3:30 - Matthew 18: 21 - 35
9:30 - Forgive from the Heart
12:50 - God Forgives in Context
14:00 - Forgive and Forget is a Lie
17:45 - Spiritual Motivation to Forgive
22:00 - Physical Motivation to Forgive
23:15 - An Antidote to Resentment
24:30 - Baby Steps to Forgive
Notes
Forgiveness - https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=forgive
Resentment - https://www.etymonline.com/word/resent
Matthew 18: 21 - 35 - “Then Peter approaching asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.” - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/18
CCC 2563b - “The heart is the place of decision, deeper than our psychic drives. It is the place of truth, where we choose life or death. It is the place of encounter, because as image of God we live in relation: it is the place of covenant.” Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2563 - http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p4s1.htm
“Saying ‘I am sorry’ and ‘I forgive you’ is saying ‘I love you’ with context.”
“There has never been a time that God has forgiven you without knowing exactly what sins you will commit for the rest of your life.”
Spiritual Reasons to Forgive
Forgiveness is a condition of being forgiven.
Matthew 6: 15 “But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/6
Unforgiveness is a demonic beachhead in the soul.
Refusing to forgive is a denial of the other’s core identity as a child of God.
Physical Reasons to Forgive - https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/forgiveness/art-20047692
Previous Episode
Physically Spiritual 12 | “The Tiger in Your Inbox” - https://www.becominggift.com/post/tiger
Baby Step to Forgive Someone
Pray for the grace of forgiveness in general.
Pray for the ability to pray for the person.
Pray for the person.
Pray that the person receives the blessings you want to receive.
Read more about Becoming Gift at https://www.becominggift.com/post/becoming-gift
Get support applying the ideas from this podcast at https://www.becominggift.com/coach
