English
EspañolForgiveness is an act of love that surpasses justice. What kind of like has this power? That which is born from a merciful and tender heart; from a humble heart for, instead of being conceited and proud, it recognizes that it is flawed and in need of forgiveness.
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“Today we recognize that being able to forgive others implies the liberating experience of understanding and forgiving ourselves. Often our mistakes, or criticism we have received from loved ones, can lead to a loss of self-esteem. We become distant from others, avoiding affection and fearful in our interpersonal relationships. Blaming others becomes falsely reassuring. We need to learn to pray over our past history, to accept ourselves, to learn how to live with our limitations, and even to forgive ourselves, in order to have this same attitude towards others.” (The Joy of Love, n.107)
Commentary
Forgiveness requires understanding the countless times we have committed mistakes and have been forgiven, not because of our merits but because of the merciful love of the one who loves us.
Understanding that we are full of imperfections and yet we are loved unconditionally helps us be compassionate with the mistakes of others, sometimes imagined or exaggerated by us. The humility of a merciful heart helps us to understand and accept the imperfections of our loved ones and to forgive them without resentment or reservations. We also need to forgive ourselves for so many actions that were not carried out as they should have been.
It is not possible to love without forgiveness. Why? Because, as humans, all of us who love also have defects, limitations, and missteps, that shine through precisely while loving. However, hope placed in the understanding and forgiveness of the beloved is an enormous good for our loving relationships. Why? Because it engenders trust and reciprocal peace while loving each other. It allows us to look calmly to the future. No matter what happens to us, we will always be together.
