 
A mother was talking to her two children, Harold and Lisa, about the importance of forgiveness. Turning to her daughter, she posed a question. “Lisa, can you give me a situation in which you might ask for forgiveness?” The girl stared straight ahead, a blank expression on her face. There was a long silence. Finally Harold spoke up, “Don’t tell Mom, Lisa, save it for the Oprah Winfrey show!”
In the first century, the actual meaning of the word “forgive” was to release someone from a debt. When you genuinely forgive someone, an amazing thing happens, you set a prisoner free. Then you discover that the prisoner you have set free is yourself!
If, on the other hand, you choose to harbor grudges in your heart, spiritually you remain locked up in a cell of your own making. Vengeance is a passion to get even. It is a hot desire to give back as much pain as someone gave you.
The problem with revenge is that it never gets what it wants; it never evens the score. Fairness never comes! The chain reaction set off by every act of vengeance always takes its own unhindered course. It ties both the injured and the injurer to an escalator of pain. Both are stuck on the escalator as long as parity is demanded, and the escalator never stops, never lets anyone off!
Is there a way off the escalator? Think carefully about the gracious words of Jesus as he prays for his tormentors from his own cross of pain: “Father, forgive them!” It is true that forgiveness does not necessarily settle all questions of blame, or set straight all issues of fairness. However, genuine forgiveness transcends all such questions and wipes the slate clean!
Forgiveness is a wonderful thing and the most profound healing we can experience. One of the greatest gifts Christ gave to his Church was the power to forgive sin, which is available through the ministry of any Priest. The words of forgiveness spoken to the paralytic in this Sunday’s Gospel are with us now in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
All of us are crippled by some type of sin and are more in need of the healing words of Jesus than we would care to admit. We would be foolish to remain spiritually paralyzed through sin because of our fear of approaching the Priest. Our return to grace is always eagerly awaited by the Lord! Astound Yourself! Go and do likewise: FORGIVE – FORGIVE – FORGIVE!
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