When we speak about forgiveness, we’re not only talking about a moral act or a religious duty. We’re speaking about something that flows directly from the very being of God. Many people ask how forgiveness can show us who God truly is — and that’s a holy question, because it draws us into His heart.
From the first pages of Scripture, God reveals Himself as merciful. Even after Adam and Eve sinned, He did not abandon them. He clothed them, spoke to them, and promised that one day, a Savior would come to heal what had been broken. In that moment of mercy, we see a glimpse of the Father’s heart — not a God who condemns, but a God who longs to restore.
When Jesus came, He showed that same mercy in flesh and blood. He forgave sinners, healed the wounded, and welcomed those others had rejected. On the Cross, He went even further — praying, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34). In that prayer, the heart of God was laid bare before the world: a love that refuses to give up on us, even when we turn away.
Forgiveness, then, is not something God does reluctantly; it’s who He is. Saint John writes, “God is love” (1 John 4:8), and love always seeks reconciliation. Every time we forgive or seek forgiveness, we are entering the rhythm of divine life — the heartbeat of God Himself. His mercy is not weakness; it is the power that redeems the world.
In our own lives, when we forgive others, we reflect that same divine mercy. Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting the hurt, but allowing love to be stronger than bitterness. It’s letting God’s heart beat within ours. And when we experience being forgiven — whether in prayer, in confession, or through another person’s kindness — we touch something eternal.
May we never grow tired of forgiving or being forgiven, for in every act of mercy, the light of God’s heart shines anew. His forgiveness is not only our healing — it is our invitation to love as He loves.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
