April 10, 2016 - The Joy and Grief of Forgiveness
April 10, 2016 - The Joy and Grief of Forgiveness
April 10, 2016
The Joy and Grief of Forgiveness
When someone forgives or is forgiven and only feels “alleviation” from his guilt or justification of his acts, what he essentially feels is verification of his narcissistic existence. In reality, his forgiveness does not include true love for the Other.
When someone truly forgives or is forgiven, he is overcome by joy and tranquility because he allows the Other to co-exist in his space; joy because where two or three are gathered together in the name of Jesus, there, He is in the midst of them (Mat. 18:20). Simultaneously though, the person that has joy also grieves. He grieves because, although he wants the Other to co-exist with him, he realizes the difficulty he has to accept the shortcomings and weaknesses of his fellow human being and to co-exist with him in freedom and love.