To forgive others

As we have learned in a previous lesson, many years before the advent of Christ, the Prophets had heralded the coming of a new, different world that the Messiah would manifest and inaugurate. This new world of the Kingdom of God with the advent of Christ acquired a meaning and content more dynamic and far more humane than the people of that time expected.

One of the most important aspects of this new world of God is repentance and forgiveness. The Lord Himself, in his words, but also in his life, has taught the value of forgiveness.

When Peter once asked him, "How many times, Lord, should I forgive my brother if he continues to hurt me? Is it up to seven times? "Christ answered," Not only seven, but countless. " And then he said a parable referring to the Kingdom of God.

“… The kingdom of the heavens is like a king who wished to be accounted for by his servants. When he started to figure it out, he was brought in with one who owed ten thousand talents. Because he did not have to pay them, his master ordered that he and his wife and children be sold and all that he had and the rest owed. Then the slave fell to his feet and said to him, "Sir, be patient and I will return everything to you." And the master of the slave grieved him, and released him, and gave him debt. As soon as that slave came out, he met one of his attendants, who owed him a hundred dinars. And he grabbed him by the neck and said, "Give me what you owe me." The fellow fell to his feet and begged him, saying, "Be patient and I'll get back to you."

But he didn't want to, but he went and put him in jail until he returned the money. When his companions saw what happened, they were very sorry and came and explained to their master everything that had happened.

Then his master calls him and says, "You work evil, I owe you all that debt, because you begged me. It shouldn't and you, too, should have mercy on your fellow man, as I have done to you? " And angry his master delivered him to the tormentors, until he returned to him all that he owed him. So will my Father in heaven do the same, if not every one of you forgive his brother with all his heart ”(Matt. 18: 21-35).

In the new reality that Christ inaugurated, forgiveness is a necessary condition for an authentic life. Jesus Christ himself not only taught love and forgiveness, but he also forgave his crusaders.

"If you forgive men what they have done evil, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions" (Matt. 6: 14-15).