Forgiveness goes far beyond the demonstration of acceptance of one who comes to you. Jesus was very clear that his call was not just to love the faithful or even those who came to him but to reach out in a way that demonstrated the love of enemies. (Matthew 5:44)
Consider how the refusal to offer forgiveness not only affects the other person but also affects you. In many situations, the refusal to offer forgiveness is more damaging to you than to the other person. Jesus takes this one step further and suggests that it also damages your relationship with God. ” So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24 The acceptability of our worship is dependent on our being a community of forgiveness.
But then Jesus takes this a step further and puts the responsibility of our enemy on our shoulders as well. This is one of the scariest tasks for the church because it directly challenges the way of the world. It was in Jesus’ both declaring and living this radical forgiveness to the unacceptable that he became most threatening to the world around him.
