Daily Reflection Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter

Stephen truly embraced the teaching of Jesus. The last words he spoke on earth were a plea for forgiveness for those were killing him. Stephen did not ask the Lord to condemn them, instead he asked that this sin not be held against them. 

Forgiving a person does not mean forgetting what they have done to us or condoning their actions. Sometimes it is the people we love the most who have hurt us. A parent, spouse, sibling, best friend…… the list can be long and for outsiders looking in the wrong can seem unforgivable. This is when we must surrender our pain to Jesus. 

If anyone can understand how we feel it is Jesus. We just need to put ourselves at the foot of the cross and remember what he went through and how he asked God to forgive those(us) who’s actions put him on the cross.

I recently heard a beautiful, guided meditation using Ignatian Spirituality on Forgiveness.  Before entering imaginative prayer, the woman leading the meditation said: “I really want you to have full freedom to decide where you want to go in this. Because there are going to be certain situations in your life that maybe you’re not ready to forgive. And what I mean by that is there’s still so much pain, resentment, and bitterness and so much that has not been named and forcing some sort of fake surrender and forgiveness is not helpful. Forgiveness is not in words alone. Sometimes just showing up in prayer and admitting our hearts are hurting is a huge first step.” Then she said “it takes one small step at a time.” 

Next, she said, “I’m just going to invite you to just ask the Holy Spirit to show you who needs your forgiveness, who is the Holy Spirit placing on your heart today? And if you can, just in the safety of where you are, picture that person in front of you they can be near or far. Then take that person to the foot of the cross. Let Jesus gaze on that person and ask Jesus for the grace or the willingness to receive the grace to forgive that person. Surrender them and the situation to God. Unburden your heart as much as you can and leave the rest to God. 

I know firsthand it can take more that one trip to Calvary to forgive, but in the end the freedom and mercy that comes with it is worth the journey. The below prayer by St. Ignatius is very helpful when climbing Calvary.

Suscipe

Take Lord and receive,

all my liberty, my memory,

my understanding, my entire will,

all I own and all I have, you gave to me.

To you, Lord, I return it, everything is yours,

dispose of it according to your will,

give me your love and grace,

this is enough for me

Amen.