Where there is injury, pardon.
I heard one of the most radical ideas about pardoning from Abbot David Geraets, a Benedictine monk who was my teacher at a school for spiritual directors. During a lesson about Healing the Family Tree he said that we must ask forgiveness from family members who have injured us because our resentments blocked their spiritual movement.
At first, I thought he was nuts. I even argued with him saying it was a crazy notion. But the more I thought about it (and continue to think about it), the more it made sense. Abbot David used the analogy of a spider web, comparing our connections to our family members to strands of a spider’s web. Any disturbance on any strand vibrates so that every other strand is affected. He said the energy it takes to hold injury—whether physical, emotional, or psychological—vibrates through our family system and has the power to block other energy. Spiritual stagnation results. Acknowledging our need for forgiveness opens spiritual channels that feed understanding and compassion.
Sometimes injuries are devastating to body, mind, or both and require recognition, justice, and reconciliation in its truest sense. But holding on to the anger or resentment associated with the injury can be even more damaging than the original wound. And taking anger and resentment to the stage of revenge is absolutely deadly both spiritually and emotionally.
If we are truly One with every other human being, pardoning injury is as life-giving for those who wound as it is for the wounded.
What injuries must I pardon?
Whose pardon must I seek?
More questions for reflection are available with the novena prayers. Today’s song of the Prayer of St. Francis is the beautiful Ryan Cayabyab version. Enjoy.