The famous Christian author, C.S. Lewis wrote, “Forgiveness is a beautiful concept until, you actually have to forgive someone.” In other words, it is easy to profess the virtue of forgiveness, but doing so is a whole other matter.
So why is it so difficult to forgive? Mainly because man’s immediate, animalistic impulse is to seek revenge when wronged. We want our offender to suffer and hurt the way we have been made to suffer and hurt. In addition, forgiveness just does not seem fair because it obstructs our sense of justice. Although we might intellectually know that it is wrong not to forgive, we still want our “pound of flesh” to feel vindicated.
Today’s parable, however, contradicts this and reminds us that if God forgives us – freely and without conditions – we MUST follow His divine example and forgive others in the same way; not only because it is the right and loving thing to do, but since we are made in the likeness of God, it is part of our nature prior to man’s fall from grace.
Thus, one must have great faith and trust in God to forgive, which is why the weak never seem to possess this divine attribute. It takes strength and courage – coupled with love and humility – to be merciful and forgiving of others.
