Pope John Paul II visits and forgives Mehmet Ali Ağca, who attempted to kill him in 1981.

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.      Matthew 18:21-22.

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It would be a reasonable guess that Peter was surprised, if not astounded, at Jesus’s response to his question, mentioned above. It is such a human reaction to get even with someone who has done us wrong. Hollywood would probably not exist if there was an eternal and universal desire to forgive and possibly forget (though probably to remember where the hatchet is buried). However, there is quite a lot of research and discovery about revenge, and how debilitating it can be – and how entertaining if it does not concern you! The classic British film “Kind Hearts and Coronets” is totally based on revenge with no sign of remorse or guilt. It’s great entertainment, but not based on contemporary evidence which suggests that revenge does not satisfy as it retains the pain inflicted and the anger which resulted from the hurt. Here is some of the latest research on revenge which is remarkable, and also happens to fit right into Jesus’ forthright thinking. With that in mind, we can approach the demand that Jesus insisted upon: Forgive! And there is more. Jesus was quite prone to idiomatic expression; if you take his instruction literally, then you must forgive 77 times (in this translation from the original Greek, more often translated as “Seventy-seven times seven times” or 539 times). After that – what? The literalist would perhaps say it’s fine to take revenge then. No – not so. We have many expressions in English which are strictly idiomatic, not to be taken seriously. For example:

The origin of the expression “It’s Raining Cats and Dogs” (and Pitchforks apparently), published by George Cruikshank, “Very Unpleasant Weather” 1820.

…..or, as I well remember listening years ago to then Communist East Europe short-wave radio: “Tonight it’s raining dogs and cats here in Bucharest”. Idioms have a way of making a point strongly, albeit indirectly, on which the Lord capitalized. And revenge, “a dish best eaten cold” it is said, (though it is even better not served at all) might well have provided the strength for “Kind Hearts…”, the movie mentioned above. But the research says that revenge seems to have the potential to take over our whole thought process, even damaging and corrupting our whole mind, and with no acceptable outcome except for doing more wrong. “Forgive” says the Lord, always, everywhere, without question, bear no evil thoughts of revenge. In the heat of the moment all that may be impossible, but when some perspective is possible, forgive – and from the heart. Consider the clear contrast with the determined revenge in “Kind Hearts…” and then there is another stage character, Jean Valjean in Les Miserables. You will recall that he was imprisoned for stealing bread to feed his family and then could not find work once released as he was still on parole. But he, rather then pursue a life of crime (and he was clever enough to do so) was transformed because of his experience with the saintly Bishop of Digne, who bought his soul for Christ in a key event, and went on to a life of selfless dignity and worth.

Today’s other two readings reinforce the Lord’s clear instruction, but with rather more severe language. Sirach says, “Remember your last days, set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin! Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor….” And the second reading focuses on the essentials: “None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord….” And revenge of any kind cannot survive a life lived that way. But it does indeed have the potential to lead us down the wrong pathway away from life hand in hand with the Lord, to a destiny of tears and hatred, just what the Devil ordered!

Holy Trinity Catholic Church (permanently closed), Romeo Celleghin 1946, Lorain, Ohio, USA. 

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