Have you experienced the liberating effect of forgiving another person unconditionally? - Daily Reflections February 23,2014

(HALF) BROTHER AND THE RAGING NANAY

 

Nanay was a tough woman. A true-blooded disciplinarian. Strict and straightforward. Hers was the only voice we would obey in the house.  I have a half-brother, who is as old as I am and almost looks like me but looks exactly like Tatay. Nanay knew about him but would rather not talk about the issue. My siblings and I would go out with him in secret, lest we catch her ire. He and his mother were Nanay’s enemies. Until she attended the Catholic Life in the Spirit Seminar and joined a local Charismatic community. She mellowed down.

       Then one day, my half-brother decided to pay me a visit in my parish. I was out. Nanay was there. Tatay was there. Tatay introduced them to each other. My half-brother told them about his forthcoming wedding.

       Consequently, Nanay required all my siblings to attend the wedding of our brother (no longer half-brother). She also did. Face to face with the other woman, she initiated an exchange of pleasantries. Later on, at the baptism of my brother’s son, Nanay was the doting mother who entertained the guests and supervised the food. She had learned to love her enemies. When Nanay died, the first floral arrangement came from this brother of mine with the words, “Alaala ng Anak, Manugang at mga Apo.”

       I credit Nanay’s change of heart to the new life in the Spirit she received. But more than this, she discovered the liberating effect of forgiveness. While it is easier and fulfilling to get even, there is untold joy in being able to “love your enemies and pray for your persecutors.” The challenge is to love those for whom we harbor ill feelings and who are most difficult to love, accept and forgive. Doing so makes us true children of the Father.

       A friend once asked me why she always seems to cross paths with a person she hates. The more that she wishes to avoid her, the more she would accidentally meet her. I told her it’s God who makes them meet — for them to make time for forgiveness and for old wounds to be healed. Fr. Erick Y. Santos, OFS

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Have you experienced the liberating effect of forgiving another person unconditionally?

 

Lord Jesus, touch my heart and soften it so that I may learn to forgive.