The revolutionary choice to forgive

Fr David Howell• February 23, 2025

“As you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” (Luke 6:31)

This line from Sunday’s Gospel makes us think how we want to be treated by others. When we sin or make mistakes, we deeply wish to be forgiven, to be given another chance, rather than being written off, without hope for the future.

Jesus grants this wish, he always forgives us. And he also lives out all the other commands of mercy in this passage: he “blessed those who cursed him” when he gave paradise to the crucified thief who had been railing at him; he “did good to those who hated him” when he healed Malchus’ ear, sliced off by Peter’s sword in Gethsemane; he “prayed for those who persecuted him” with the staggering words, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”; he “offered the other cheek” and “gave his tunic” to the Roman soldiers preparing his execution.

But his own actions differed from these commands as the context demanded. Unlike his powerless position on Calvary, he did not “offer the other cheek” when he was able to stop his striker sinning in the house of Annas, the high priest; instead he asked, “if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” (John 18:23).

When self-defence and charitable correction are possible, Jesus wants us to exercise them; when they are not feasible, he calls us to abandon ourselves in trust as he did. We are not to despair out of futility, but surrender out of love. Being a saint means making love the motive for every choice we make: even towards enemies, we are never to act from hate.

When we hear these words, perhaps first we feel obliged to do the good things Jesus describes. But in fact, first of all, we have done the bad things Jesus describes – and we have done them to him! Our sins tortured and killed him but his love is much deeper than them.

He gives us power to live these words through the Holy Spirit. Jesus is a “life-giving spirit” (1 Cor 15:45) because his body is brimming with the Holy Spirit. He shares the Holy Spirit with us, especially when we receive his body and blood in the Eucharist. Then we can overflow with grace to others, even our enemies.

Mary, “full of grace”, gives us her intercession and example: she embraced us, her enemies, responsible for her Son’s death, and loves us as children.