Forgiveness
Sermon by Priest Greg Brady
August 10th, 2017

Hello, Priest Greg Brady of the EOC here, and today I am going to talk a little about forgiveness, and how it is better to forgive, rather than hold on to the pain associated with unforgiving.

Matthew 6: 14-15 (KJV)

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

In Matthew 6 following Our Lords prayer, there is a clear message of forgiveness for everybody that should be taken seriously, “forgive men”, and our “heavenly Father will also forgive you”. After all, who can honestly say that they are without sin?

It might seem hard at times, and depending on the severity of transgression against another, almost impossible to forgive or let go of anger towards another. But is it honestly really worth holding on to anger and possible feelings of hatred? Personally, I don’t think it is. Holding on to such feelings can lead to a lifetime of unhappiness, and can even lead some to an action one might end up regretting themselves. Anger, hatred, resentment or bitterness can lead to our own unhappiness, and the longer we hold on to such feelings, the longer the process of healing and letting go, and ultimately the longer to get over our own unhappiness.

We need to free ourselves from the pain of holding onto the feelings associated with unforgiving thoughts, the transgression from another might hurt, but it can also hurt even more holding on to these unforgiving feelings. I have even witnessed on occasion, the hard work and effort that some put into holding a grudge, holding on to pain and making themselves and others unhappy. Honestly, if the hard work and effort put into holding such a grudge were let go, not only would the person in question benefit, but family, friends, and surrounding circles would also benefit. If we don’t free ourselves from such unforgiving thoughts, it can lead to a regrettable action and possible trouble with the law, no good comes from feelings of anger, hatred bitterness or resentment.

There is such thing as justice, and justice can be served without holding on to resentment. Even for those who feel adequate justice has not been served or feel the system has failed them through the courts or early prison release, there is no escaping divine justice and the judgment process every soul on earth must go through.

I saw a video recently circulating on social media, where a young woman in India was accused of having an affair with a married man. Friends, family, and the local community of the married man’s wife gathered to enforce their own brand of punishment. They got together as a mob surrounding the young woman accused, pushing, hitting and eventually forcing the woman to the ground, someone from the crowd then used lighter fluid to set the woman on fire. The woman died in the most horrible inhumane way, surrounded by a mob of what looked like hundreds while being filmed. Anger, hatred, resentment, and bitterness led to the actions of the mob, and while the law and custom, although unacceptable, may be different in parts of India to western countries, revenge attacks and punishment/gang attacks still exist and do little for the progress of society. All these people that instigate, and get involved in this kind of mob rule are doing is making their own judgment much harsher on the day of the Lord.

Personally, although it may be difficult to begin with, I feel that for the betterment of the victim/victims family, forgiveness should be worked towards, and can go a long way in the healing process of those involved. May God bless you in Lord RayEl’s name, Amen.

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