595. How is forgiveness possible? (part 1)

595. How is forgiveness possible? (part 1)     

(Comp 595) Mercy can penetrate our hearts only if we ourselves learn how to forgive – even our enemies. Now even if it seems impossible for us to satisfy this requirement, the heart that offers itself to the Holy Spirit can, like Christ, love even to love’s extreme; it can turn injury into compassion and transform hurt into intercession. Forgiveness participates in the divine mercy and is a high-point of Christian prayer.

“In brief”

(CCC 2862) The fifth petition begs God's mercy for our offences, mercy which can penetrate our hearts only if we have learned to forgive our enemies, with the example and help of Christ.

To deepen and explain

(CCC 2840) Now - and this is daunting - this outpouring of mercy cannot penetrate our hearts as long as we have not forgiven those who have trespassed against us. Love, like the Body of Christ, is indivisible; we cannot love the God we cannot see if we do not love the brother or sister we do see (Cf. l Jn 4:20). In refusing to forgive our brothers and sisters, our hearts are closed and their hardness makes them impervious to the Father's merciful love; but in confessing our sins, our hearts are opened to his grace.  

Reflection

(CCC 2841) This petition is so important that it is the only one to which the Lord returns and which he develops explicitly in the Sermon on the Mount (Cf. Mt 6:14-15; 5:23-24; Mk 11:25). This crucial requirement of the covenant mystery is impossible for man. But "with God all things are possible" (Mt 19:26). [IT CONTINUES]    

(The question: How is forgiveness possible? continues)