As We Forgive

At mass this morning, as I prayed the Our Father prayer Jesus taught us, I had a sudden flashback.  “And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  It struck me how extremely important it is that we forgive others and reminded me of some recent incidents in my life.  I had always taken those prayer words as a reminder to not hang onto memories of people who treated me wrongly.  Forgive them overtly, call or write them a letter, or at least forgive and forget.  I’ve done both in recent years, whether to a boss, a family member, or a friend.  What struck me this morning though, was some recent incidents with total strangers, who did something I thought they shouldn’t.  

Those people triggered my anger response.  Being upset at their “not doing things my way” is part of the culture we live in, and I’m no saint.  It’s all people want to talk about, whether politics or religion or work, pointing to “Look what they did.”  This conversation focus, however, is the total opposite of what Jesus lived and taught, to love your neighbor --- no exceptions, no focus on their sins.  That’s why He ate with sinners, not because He approved of what they’d done, as the Pharisees implied, but to show them what Christian love is.  He came among sinners so that they might become ex-sinners.  “Go and sin no more” was a line He often said or inspired in the hearts of those who knew Him.  And He showed us how important that was when He said to pray to Our Father and to forgive us, just as we do our neighbors --- including the politicians, the church leaders, or our co-workers.  

Or even total strangers.

A couple of days ago I had an incident where someone delayed me in traffic.  They were in front of me in a right turn lane, and when the right turn green arrow lit up, they didn’t proceed.  Today, the Our Father prayer at mass caused me to reflect on their and my reactions, and I recalled that my anger caused them to anger; my sin caused them to sin.  Later I resolved to try and pray for people like that in the future and not get angry.

I’m sure that type of incident has happened to me before, people delaying me at a turn signal, but I think God tested my resolve yesterday, or as a blessing gave me an opportunity to show love of my neighbor.  Yesterday, at that very same intersection and right turn lane, there again was a car in front of me and one behind me.  The green turn arrow lit up, and the car in front of me did not move.  My hand went to the horn instinctively, but I stopped myself from pressing it.  And I did say a quick prayer for the driver in front of me.  And the car behind me didn’t beep either.  Then, the green light went on.  Again, I waited, but nothing happened, then the car in front of me put on its emergency flashers.  It had an engine problem.  I did feel more flustered, but I flicked on my LEFT turn signal to tell the car behind me that we’d have to go around the one stopped in front.  And I began looking at passing traffic to see when I could merge, when out of the corner of my eye I saw the car in front of me go forward and turn.  I followed, and shortly after I saw its emergency flashers go off.

 I said another short prayer of thanks for that driver --- and for myself.  It was a lesson I hope I learned and will remember.  In church as I prayed the Our Father prayer today, my mind flashed back to those incidents of my forgiveness and lack thereof.  It was a reminder that even those little events can have eternal impacts.  And we pray that it is so.