Leave Vengeance to God

Now and again I stress heavily this matter of grudges because I have found that this is the truth which always brings a positive response.

Following some remarks I made concerning an unforgiving spirit, a woman wrote: “I had often read in Every Day with Jesus your words about forgiveness, and I knew that one day I would have to face up to this challenge. Today’s reading demolished all my defenses.

“Intellectually I had always accepted what you said about the need to forgive and that I could not be whole until I had completely forgiven those who had hurt me, but I wouldn’t get down to actually putting it into words. I kept holding back my feelings, saying subconsciously: ‘I will forgive some day, and then my troubles will be over—but not yet.’

“Your words today came like a bolt from the blue: ‘There is usually a reason why we don’t want to give up our grudges and resentments. One reason is that we use them to feel sorry for ourselves.’ I certainly had done my share of that, but suddenly I let go. It was like a boil bursting. All the pent-up poisons gushed out of me, and I was a new person. I’m in the midst of a campaign now to overcome the misunderstandings of years.” What happened to this woman can happen now, today, to you. No matter how wronged you have been—forgive.

When Jesus announced His mission in Nazareth, He read from Isaiah’s prophecy until He came to the words, “the day of our God’s vengeance.” Then He closed the book. You do the same. Leave vengeance to God. Use only redemptive goodwill.

Further Study

Mk 11:18-25; Lk 11:4; 17:4; Mt 18:21-22

What are we to do when we pray?

How many times should we forgive?