For the past many weeks, we have explored the concept of forgiveness.  In the Canticle of the Creatures, St. Francis says that God is blessed by those who forgive for love of God.  We have examined what forgiveness is and is not. We have seen that God truly forgives us through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, on the cross.

At the same time, forgiveness is a human choice. It is an act of will that a person consciously decides on. In forgiving, we release the other person from the debt that they owe us for the hurt they have caused. We do not pretend that nothing has happened, nor do we ignore what has been done to us. The hurt we have experienced is real. 

Betrayal by a friend or a spouse can be very painful and that pain can last a long time.

To forgive, therefore, is often not an easy thing. And it is impossible without the help of God. 

Only by remembering and appreciating what Jesus, though sinless, endured to forgive the hurts we inflict on God through our sins can we possibly forgive the hurts we have endured at the hands of others. Hurt is real, but so is the freedom that we experience when, for love of God, we choose to release others from their debt by offering forgiveness.   

This week, let us consider that alone, we humans cannot avoid sin, but with God in our hearts, we can experience the freedom of forgiveness.