Forgiveness
July 30, 1998
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Each of us took a few moments to describe how forgiveness has impacted our lives. One said he has lived such a charmed life that he feels no need for forgiveness either way. Another was very suspicious of the whole thing, and felt that it was his mission to hold others to account for their infractions until they reform — forgiveness lacking such reform would be a cop out. Still another pointed to Jesus' instruction that in order to secure our own forgiveness we must grant the same to others (the parables in our readings above were brought in by this individual).
The person serving as facilitator for the meeting spoke passionately of how he yearned to forgive in a very painful circumstance, the memory of which still affects him. He speculated as to how wonderful he'd feel if he could do this, how far he would transcend his present sense of reality. Old hands at 12-Step recovery pointed to the need to instantly forgive, no matter what, in order to preserve sanity and abstinence.
A woman, having experienced physical and sexual abuse, described how she worked out forgiveness based on Jesus' declaration from the cross "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." In her case, the perpetrators were operating with limited intellectual and emotional capacity — to continue to hate these people would be like hating a child who had done something awful. When she saw this she felt a great surge of life through her body and knew she was healed — her body was now her own.
Another member felt acceptance of the divine reality of any situation was essential in healing, which includes forgiveness. This jibed with what another who reported on his own experience. He likes to keep his "eyes on the prize," in other words, what are we really seeking in an encounter — animosity and confusion, or harmony and a result beneficial to all concerned? He drew our attention to a healing he had a few weeks back, when a family member crudely insulted him, seemingly out of the blue. He could have added to the problem with an even more devastating remark — he had a couple of them on the tip of his tongue — or he could flip the whole thing into the divine, and see immediate healing. It wasn't forgiveness so much as it was just seeing the divine situation.
We noted in open discussion that forgiveness in the Old Testament is a matter between God and man. It is Jesus who brings it into the everyday discourse of people with each other. His teaching requires us to forgive each other. There is the implication that we are also to forgive each other's sins, even when not specifically done against us, since he did this on a number of occasions.
Forgiveness in Christian Science is as radical as any healing practice. It flows naturally and effectively when we view existence from the standpoint of Spirit, where evil or error is unreal. This position seemed to us the only practical place from which forgiveness could flow. If we attempt to forgive as an act of human will, it will backfire either in continuing infractions or, if the fear and pain are driven underground, ruptured relationships, illness or accidents. Here is what Mrs. Eddy has to say of human will: "The human will which maketh and worketh a lie, hiding the divine Principle of harmony, is destructive to health, and is the cause of disease rather than its cure," (Science and Health, pg. 445:24-26).
The forgiveness of Science moves off the "mortal basis of belief" to the understanding of Divine Being as including man and the universe. From this position — the only position that truly exists — we not only forgive, we actually heal the offending situation and bless all concerned. This quote from Mrs. Eddy concerning accidents, alluded to above, contains a powerful prescription for healing any disharmony: "Accidents are unknown to God, or immortal Mind, and we must leave the mortal basis of belief and unite with the one Mind, in order to change the notion of chance to the proper sense of God's unerring direction and thus bring out harmony," (Science and Health, pg. 424:5-9).
Our topic for next week, Breaking Through An Impasse will involve not only study but practice in regard to longstanding or unyielding problems.
And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Calling on Him to forgive our work badly done or left undone, implies the vain supposition that we have nothing to do but to ask pardon, and that afterwards we shall be free to repeat the offence.
Do you ask wisdom to be merciful and not to punish sin? Then "ye ask amiss." Without punishment, sin would multiply. Jesus' prayer, "Forgive us our debts," specified also the terms of forgiveness. When forgiving the adulterous woman he said, "Go, and sin no more."
Mere legal pardon (and there is no other, for divine Principle never pardons our sins or mistakes till they are corrected) leaves the offender free to repeat the offence, if indeed, he has not already suffered sufficiently from vice to make him turn from it with loathing. Truth bestows no pardon upon error, but wipes it out in the most effectual manner.
Prayer cannot change the unalterable Truth, nor can prayer alone give us an understanding of Truth; but prayer, coupled with a fervent habitual desire to know and do the will of God, will bring us into all Truth.
XXX. The destruction of sin is the divine method of pardon. Divine Life destroys death, Truth destroys error, and Love destroys hate. Being destroyed, sin needs no other form of forgiveness.
"Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." That is, Fear not that he will smite thee again for thy forbearance.
Hate no one; for hatred is a plague-spot that spreads its virus and kills at last. If indulged, it masters us; brings suffering upon suffering to its possessor, throughout time and beyond the grave. If you have been badly wronged, forgive and forget: God will recompense this wrong, and punish, more severely than you could, him who has striven to injure you. Never return evil for evil; and, above all, do not fancy that you have been wronged when you have not been.
The present is ours; the future, big with events. Every man and woman should be to-day a law to himself, herself,—a law of loyalty to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount.