FORGIVING ONE’S SELF
In
the pursuit of our dreams, we inevitably commit mistakes and encounter
defeat along the way. And more often than not, we feel bad because our
mistakes and failures seem to indicate that we are never good enough.
But have we pondered on this statement deeply? Whoever said we were not
good enough?
Most of the time, it is our own self — our own pride — trying to tell
us: “You are no better compared to him; you should have been number one,
not him,” and so on. We hate not being number one. But what’s wrong
with being the second best?
We are held in bondage by the competitions we impose upon ourselves, without realizing that the true delimiting figure in our life lies at the very core of our being, hidden in the deepest recesses of our heart. We will never be able to win the race that is not ours in the first place. We need to free ourselves from competition.
The Gospel today talks about forgiveness: “Forgive and you will be
forgiven.” It invites us to be merciful, just as our Father is merciful.
But more
than being other-directed, forgiveness should first spring from within
us. We can only truly begin to forgive others if we first learn to
forgive ourselves for our shortcomings, our failures, our indecisions.
Know that God always forgives those who forgive others, including
themselves. And He is a God of second chances. We should not be
restricted by the mistakes, defeats and indecisions of the past. The
present has the power to redeem our past; it has the capacity to change
our future.
Let us ask ourselves today: What are we capable of doing? And then,
quite calmly, go off in search of our own immense potential, claiming
boldly that gifts will be given to us — a good measure, packed together,
shaken down and overflowing! Fr. Erick Y. Santos, OFS
REFLECTION QUESTION: Have you totally forgiven yourself and others?
Lord, thank You for giving me a second chance each time I fail and fall. Amen.
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