Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled... (Hebrews 12,14-15)
A root of bitterness when nurtured by resentment and sustained anger cannot be contained, and as the Apostle St. Paul teaches here springs up and defiles others. We may think we are merely righteously indignant or justifiably angry over some serious transgression or trespass, but such a view is shortsighted and excludes the mandate of Christ the Lord:
"But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences." (St. Matthew 6,16)
A bitter root may be caused by the devil taking advantage of some wound in our hearts. He feeds us lies in order to intensify the grudge that will spread its toxins in our web of relationships. The pain we feel is very real; the grudge we hold rarely inflicts the hoped for damage on the object of our wrath, but rather bars us from divine pardon and harms those closest to us.
The root of bitterness takes hold in our hearts because of pride; we presume that we are undeserving of the harm we have received, and on a purely human plane, this may be true. However the eyes of faith look beyond the immediate cause to the will of God. If God has allowed some evil to afflict us in His mysterious providence, we are to consider it a share in the cross and suffering of our Redeemer Who innocently endured the agony and torments of crucifixion in order to save us. We are to at least will to forgive, even if abiding in such merciful regard for our tormentors seems impossible. Without the assistance of supernatural grace, it may be impossible. Yet Christ commands us to forgive lest our sins remain unforgiven.
This Christ teaches us to love our enemies and to do good to those who offend us. This spreads not the harmful toxins of resentment, but the liberating odor of divine sweetness. It demonstrates trust in Him Who loved us even when we were His enemies (Romans 5,8-9).
The wounds we have received are real. They may cause us deep hurt that lasts for very long periods of time. Yet our Lord knows this and cares for us in our misery. He does not cruelly threaten us with the withholding of forgiveness if we fail to forgive others, but rather lavishes His saving mercy upon us first in the initiation of overtures toward us, His beloved. He offers us Himself: body, blood, soul and divinity in the Most Holy Eucharist. He loves us without condition or merit; He is love itself.
Forgive those that have wronged you and look past their deeds to God Who rules and reigns over all and Who knows what we need before we ask. Resist the temptation to ascribe motives to your offenders, for while it may be evil, that is not something we can know with certainty and we are forbidden to judge another's internal forum. Who knows what evil may have been visited upon them?
Nothing is more Christlike than to pardon offenses, to forgive, to offer clemency, even to the undeserving. May God grant us childlike faith to believe this wonderful truth which will save not only us but those we love when put into practice.
Originally posted 7 January 2020
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