BUT WHY SHOULD WE FORGIVE? September 13, 2026

We could talk about the psychological reasons: resentment and unforgiveness are poisonous to us, and holding onto anger often punishes us as much as anyone else. Those things are true and important. But there is a deeper reason.

Can you think of a moment in Jesus’ life when he was being hurt, and he chose to forgive? On the Cross, Jesus prays, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Here Jesus is being sinned against—through a sham trial, false charges and an unjust execution—and he prays that God would forgive.

On the Cross, Jesus enters into solidarity with the human condition of sin and violence. He is living in the fullness of “Cain’s city.” If he were operating according to its logic, he would have fought back. Instead, he forgives. Why? Because he knows how God’s Kingdom works. The Father will make it right. The Resurrection is the promise and proof of that.

As disciples, then, every moment in which we are called to forgive becomes our own participation in the life of Christ and in the Cross. Everyone wants to say that being a Christian is about loving God and loving our neighbor—and that is true. But this is where the “love your neighbor” rubber hits the road: Do you love them enough to forgive them?

Source (an excerpt): https://catholicdioceseofwichita.org/reflections/the-24th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-a/

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