Larry Denninger writes "What My Lawsuit Taught Me About Forgiving My Enemy". He shares how it felt to be financially harmed by someone out to destroy his business, and what happened when experienced the power of forgiveness.
He concludes:
"This is why Jesus tells us to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us, to forgive those who have wronged us. He wants to perform miracles in us, through us, and for us. I’ve read and heard His words so many times, that I think I grew complacent – not just as to what those words mean, but as to how those words change us. Putting those words to action conforms us to Christ. Like so many things Jesus said, it’s easy to nod and say, oh, such wise and beautiful sayings!, and then go on our way. But they are the ideal to which all us Catholics must strive. Whether it’s the Beatitudes, or the works of mercy, or the entire Sermon on the Mount – Jesus’ words are meant to be lived. Forgiveness of our enemies – especially if we are unjustly wronged – takes grace, and we must be humble, and we must abandon the desire for vengeance. Forgiving our enemies allows us to love them, so that they might see Christ in us, and thus possibly be converted to Christ."
If you would like to join other Catholics for a weekend of learning to forgive, reconcile, and chart a new path as Catholic writers, we'd love to have you for our A Good Discourse conference in January 2021.
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