ONE OF THE GREATEST ACTS of forgiveness I have known of in my lifetime was of a friend in Northern Ireland whose daughter was murdered by the Irish Republican Army. When interviewed by the world's press shortly after the incident, he spoke of forgiving the perpetrators, and spent the rest of his life trying to bring peace and reconciliation to Ireland.
How can we overcome hatred, bitterness, and resentment? Throughout the Bible there are stories of how various folk overcame challenges in their lives caused by hatred. Hatred often fueled by a lust for power over one's neighbor, or his possessions, or because of a difference in culture or religious beliefs.
Jesus, who walked the streets of Jerusalem as a Jew, healed the sick; yet he was hated by some of his own people, especially the Pharisees and Sadducees—the practitioners and upholders of strict Jewish law. They saw him as a threat to their way of life, to the power they exercised over the people, and eventually they conspired to have him put to death. But during his lifetime and to the present day, Jesus' words of forgiveness and love echo in the consciousness of humanity. Simply but profoundly he counseled humanity: "Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. ... And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise" (Luke 6:27, 28, 31).
Jesus also taught that even when we are persecuted or reviled (hated), we are blessed if we are meek (humble), merciful (forgiving), pure in heart, and if we act as peacemakers (see Matt. 5:1-12). The world and our own mental environment need peace and peacemakers, not hatred and warmongers.
Jesus preached the gospel of forgiveness. When asked how many times one should forgive another, he said as much as "seventy times seven" (Matt. 18:22), a phrase that means not just literally 490 times, but as often as wrongs continue to be done. In every instance and every time we should always forgive. Jesus lived what he recommended to others. Even on the cross he said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).
In her work Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, Mary Baker Eddy wrote: " 'Love thine enemies' is identical with 'Thou hast no enemies.' Wherein is this conclusion relative to those who have hated thee without a cause? Simply, in that those unfortunate individuals are virtually thy best friends. Primarily and ultimately, they are doing thee good far beyond the present sense which thou canst entertain of good" (p. 9).
To live a life without resentment or reaction, totally forgiving those who do us wrong, can be a tall order. Yet in the end, only forgiveness and love break down barriers, reinstate relationships, end wars.
I once received a hateful and vitriolic letter from a relative I loved dearly. My first reaction was to think I will not need to make contact again after this, but as I prayed about it and read many helpful ideas in Mrs. Eddy's writings I felt impelled to call this dear one. I said with a tender chuckle, "In the light of the letter you sent me, I have some really bad news for you—I am just going to go right on loving you." And I did. We now have a really good relationship.
Some time ago an athlete called me for Christian Science treatment. He was having great difficulty even walking. As we talked, I became aware that he was feeling guilty and putting himself down about an incident that had occurred between him and a family member. So together, we prayed to establish in his thought the truth of man's innocence as the guiltless idea of God, and a true sense of forgiveness—forgiving himself and the other party. Attaining that forgiveness and freedom from guilt, nothing was left to hinder or restrict his movement or harmony. He was healed. Besides being able to run and walk freely, the family relationship also improved.
Loving our enemies, breaking down old barriers of resentment, forgiving those who have treated us wrongfully, we can change our lives. We can change our world.
