[Jesus said:] "This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one. If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."

Nelson Mandela, the future president of South Africa, was released from prison after 26 years of hard labor as a political prisoner. Taking over his country which had only begun to deal with apartheid, he had an ominous task ahead of him. The Afrikaners, his jailers, mostly white Europeans, were still very much a part of his country with many followers, while the majority, the black Africans were hoping that Mandela would bring their party into their rightful superior place in the country. He chose to unite the country by appealing for reconciliation and forgiveness, primarily asking his own party to begin it. Most of all, he chose to allow the Afrikaner sport of rugby to be the sport of the nation, instead of the preferred sport of the black Africans, soccer. He called for the nation to unite behind the Springboks, the national rugby team of South Africa. Mandela had opposition from all sides, especially his own party, but as he worked, he taught the South African people and indeed, everyone in the world, that in order to overcome hatred and prejudice, one must begin with forgiveness.            

If one were to rank the doctrines of Jesus Christ according to how difficult they are, forgiveness may be number one or two. It is difficult because of the complexity of every situation. Every situation that requires forgiveness has a history, and the history is always complicated. Jesus knew that, of course, but he still made the condition of offering forgiveness to be the only way that his Father would forgive us, and if the Father does not forgive us, we are condemned. The logic is simple. The result is radical.

When the Christian solution of forgiveness is called forth, we tend to become historians writing with our own particular bias. We explain that we were not the ones who started the problem; we were hurt even when we did our best to reconcile; "they" haven't admitted any wrong, and so now, it is "their" turn. We have been insulted, our family has been discredited: it is too much to ask us to forgive as we judge our circumstances. Our rationalizations never stop. And so, the battle continues.

Nelson Mandela had been punished for something that he did not do, condemned to hard labor for 26 years. He had a history, and he could easily have called for revenge now that he had the upper hand. He was right. He had been wronged. Everyone knew it. Now he had his chance. And he chose to begin his new political life by forgiving those who had wronged him--unconditionally. It had consequences, of course. His own family practically disowned him. His own people did not understand him. It had an immense personal toll on him, but he knew what he had to do. He had to begin with forgiveness. It meant reaching out to the "other side," as if they were right, embracing them, and offering them the forgiveness that he himself deserved.

There is only one way to cure prejudice and hatred. Jesus knew it. Nelson Mandela knew it. You ignore the history. You forgive. End of story--you accept the blame. Only then can any reconciliation be accomplished. 

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son was very clear when it came to forgiveness. No matter what the circumstances, we must forgive others. It is such a difficult doctrine. Give us the grace to accept it and live it as best we can. Be with us, we pray. 

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©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America