It is said that those who never make a mistake have never achieved anything. But as easy as it is to make mistakes, it is difficult – and unpleasant – to admit them. Mistakes happen all the time, sometimes they are minor, sometimes they are major mistakes; sometimes we find the right path as a result, and sometimes we stray from the right path.
We can make mistakes towards our spouse, towards our friends, relatives and brethren. I speak of “mistakes”, but that is just a nice way of describing transgressions and sins that we commit against others or that others commit against us.
Our attention is drawn to the “mistake” so that we can, if possible, correct it. This realization is accompanied by shame. Shame is an unpleasant feeling. If we have done something wrong, we should be ashamed of it. But sometimes we don’t want to feel shame because we don’t want to give the impression of failing, being embarrassed or making a fool of ourselves.
It’s good that we are aware of our mistakes. But now we must also have the will not to repeat these mistakes and we must not act indifferently to our mistakes.
We tend to argue according to our prejudices. We know when we are offended, of course, but we ignore it when we offend someone else. Each of us has our own special way of analyzing circumstances or justifying ourselves. What we think initially seems not only right but also perfectly reasonable.
In the back of our minds, even if we don’t want to admit it, we think we are better than others, if not in knowledge, then in character and our attitude! The word forgiveness is often on our lips, but rarely in our hearts. We use phrases like “I’m sorry” or “excuse me” only for the sake of manners and politeness; they are rather meaningless because they have nothing to do with our sincere desire to truly ask for forgiveness.
The same applies when we are asked to forgive others for “mistakes” made against us. How serious are we about “forgiving” others? Are we really prepared to forgive others from the bottom of our hearts for the “mistakes” they have committed against us?
Do we really know forgiveness? Have we ever learned forgiveness? Do we treat others the way we want them to treat us, even when it comes to forgiveness? “I know all of that”, we might think. But we should also live by it!
Christ said: “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses” (Mark 11:25-26). We must truly repent of our own mistakes and transgressions that we have committed against others and ask for their forgiveness, and we must also be willing to forgive others their mistakes if they are remorseful and ask for our forgiveness.
We read in Matthew 18:21-35:
“Then Peter came to Him and said, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
“‘But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. ‘So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.’”
We can learn from our own mistakes. We are not obliged to keep repeating the same mistakes. We can also learn from the mistakes that others have made in the Bible. We all make “mistakes”; that is something we must not forget. But we must repent of them, and we must also forgive the “mistakes” made against us from the bottom of our hearts when they are repented of.
Initial translation: Daniel Blasinger
