Forgiveness and the Kingdom
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“When we forgive we open doors and we know that this reflects the love of God who opens His arms to us and opens the doors of His kingdom to everyone who would enter with faith. And our behavior towards others must reflect this commandment given by our Lord right before His betrayal and crucifixion, “that you love one another, even as I have loved you.” It is a commandment that is self-enforcing. Either you love and have mercy or you can’t understand that language, it’s like something alien to you and even if the Lord would open the doors to His kingdom you wouldn’t be able to enter because you could not comprehend His mercy or His love. You would run from it as from fire. Because it is something that would cause you discomfort and anguish instead of bringing you peace and a sense of belonging. It is an energy, a spirit that we don’t comprehend if we haven’t assimilated it into our lives, rather, if we haven’t assimilated into the life of Christ.” (Fr. James Guirguis)
“We turn to God seeking God’s mercy and forgiveness, that may be the easiest and most graceful part of our spiritual lives. If we accept God’s love and forgiveness, then comes our asceticism – our self denial and taking up our cross as we turn to forgive those around us who have offended us. The jubilee doesn’t end when God extends His forgiveness and mercy to us. Rather, that begins in us our asceticism as we then extend the same forgiveness to others as we cooperate with God in spreading the Kingdom of Grace.” (Fr. Ted Bobosh)
“And here was the turning point. He did not say to me, “Jackie, you have to forgive.” The words that so many well-meaning friends and even clergy have said to me through the years. Here is what he said: “Jackie, you can choose to forgive.” “Choose” being the operative word. Choose. It was up to me. It was up to me to make the conscious decision to forgive. I was ready. I was ready to choose to forgive…However, forgiveness operates in a realm that is beyond rational and logical. Yet, paradoxically, it is absolutely rational and logical to free ourselves from bondage, regret, hatred, bitterness, and anger.” (Jackie Morfesis)
“All men need the forgiveness of God and must pray for it. All men are indebted to God for everything, and fail to offer the thanksgiving and praise and righteousness that are due. The only way that God will overlook and forgive the sins and debts of His servants is if they themselves forgive their brothers, not merely in words and formal gestures, but genuinely and truly ‘from their hearts‘ (cf. Matthew 18:35). (Fr. Thomas Hopko)
“ ‘First be reconciled to your brother, and then come offer your gift’ (Matthew 5:24)…Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven’ (Mathew 7:21). It’s very straightforward. Christ expects us strive to be like Him. We are to put His teachings into practice. He reconciled Himself to us out of love even though He suffered and was wronged. He commands us to work toward reconciliation with each other. We will not have salvation until we do so (Matthew 5:25-26). We cannot hold on to grudges. If we do and go to Church and worship and do “all the right things” we are still far from God. We have to have seek reconciliation with those we have wronged or have been wronged by. It’s not easy but forgiveness reconciliation are the heart of our faith.” (Sacramental Living Ministries)
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