Sunday 25 November 2018

Face to Face with St Peter




St Peter opened the Gates of Heaven one morning to find an elderly woman waiting there.

“Ah …” he said, “I wasn’t expecting you so early. Normally guests start arriving at about mid-morning. Anyway … what is your name?”

The woman gave her name and the old Saint put on his reading glasses and started typing on his computer. Moments later her details came up on the screen.

“Aha … you’ve had a tough life I see … I’m sorry to read all about it. You overcame many trials and tribulations and suffered many pains and heartaches …”

The woman smiled feebly.

“You were generally very kind too … and you prayed a lot. Often reciting the Rosary on your knees! I bet you have calloused knees …” he laughed.

She blushed a little and said nothing.

He tapped at the keyboard a few times and then added, “generous too … you gave to the poor as much as you could spare …”

She looked down to the ground and said nothing.

“Oh … Oh …” he said with a frown, “what’s this I read here? It is written in red; and underlined too …

“For almost a lifetime you have not forgiven someone … why is that?”

She trembled a little and muttered, “That person hurt me very badly …”

“That’s true,” said the Saint, “it says so here on my computer …”

“And the hurt never went away …” added the old lady trying to justify her actions, “every time I remembered I hurt once again …”

“Yes I know …” interrupted St Peter, “it says so here …”

“And that person never asked for my forgiveness either …” continued the old lady sensing a reprieve.

“The thing is …” interrupted the Saint once again, “you never actually wanted to forgive did you? You held on to the hurt as a crutch which in time became a stick to beat that person with … not literally, but certainly in your mind.

“Every time you remembered the hurt you felt ill-will towards that person. Even though they may not have asked for forgiveness you would not have granted forgiveness if asked. In fact their lack of asking forgiveness itself became an instrument of growth for your crutches and the stick to beat him with.”

She trembled, fearing the worst, and said nothing.

“Yet … at all times, you recited Our Lord’s own words ‘forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespassed against us’ and did not mean a word you said.

“He is very hurt by that!” admonished the Saint as gently as he could, “Our Lord has often been misquoted and this short phrase I fear is the most common misquotation of all.”

At this the old lady began weeping uncontrollably.

“Our Lord, my Master, is very forgiving indeed …” continued St Peter, “I know that from personal experience. Also on the Cross He forgave his oppressors. And a few days later He forgave Thomas too.

“As for the memories … of course He still has them. Every time He looks at the scars on His hands and feet, and on His side, the memories come back to Him as painful and raw as if it were yesterday. And every time He remembers, He forgives once again!”

She wiped her eyes with her veil and continued weeping.

The Saint switched off his computer and shut the Gates behind him as he re-entered Heaven.

22 comments:

  1. Wait...she does not get into Heaven? Why isn't she forgiven for not forgiving?

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    1. Good point, JoeH. In the Lord's Prayer, the only petition with a condition to it is the one about forgiveness.

      God bless you.

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  2. Thank you. This is certainly thought provoking!

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    1. Thank you Kathy. Yes, we are indeed meant to forgive wholeheartedly.

      God bless.

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  3. Hello Victor, Thank you for reminding us of the importance of forgiveness. Thank you for sharing your blog. Kind regards to you from Seattle. God bless you! John

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    1. Thank you for visiting us again, John. Nice to see you here. Best wishes to you and yours from the UK.

      God bless.

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  4. He left her outside. Wow...powerful.

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    1. It's a difficult lesson for all of us, Sandi.

      God bless.

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  5. I feel sorry for her.
    I was in a situation as most who know my story also know that I forgave him for what he did to me. But it took many years for me to actually say that he was fogiven and meaning it.
    She just ran out of time, the poor dear. After all...we are only human 💮

    Blessings ❤

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    1. I believe I understand what you are saying, Jan. I think God is looking at the depth and truthfulness of our forgiveness, not how long it takes to forgive.

      I shall be posting again on forgiveness in a few days time, in-between other more light-hearted posts.

      God bless.

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  6. Forgiving is not always easy but life is so much brighter when we do... and when we mean it! A great reminder, Victor!

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  7. A tough exercise indeed but it would make you feel better and take a load off your shoulders.

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    1. Yes Bill, it is tough to forgive, especially when the memories of the hurt come back to haunt us.

      God bless you.

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  8. Wow, Victor, if this doesn't make one sit up and take notice, I don't know what will! Forgiveness may not be easy, but it is absolutely necessary. If we don't forgive someone for hurting us, we only hurt ourselves as we grow in bitterness and hardened hearts. May we all forgive the sins of others quickly and completely!
    Blessings!

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    1. Forgiveness is perhaps the most difficult thing about being a Christian, Martha. I shall be posting again on this subject soon, after one or two light-hearted posts perhaps.

      I have replied to you on the matter you raised earlier.

      God bless.

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  9. Wow, I didn't see that coming. But, for argument's sake … should our forgiveness extend (for instance) to terrorists and those who wish to destroy us?

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    1. Mevely, forgiveness is often misunderstood, which is what makes it so difficult to practice. I am considering a post about forgiveness to be published here soon which will perhaps extend this discussion further. Please return to this Blog and see if I have addressed your question properly.

      God bless you.

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  10. It took me a long time to understand if I was unwilling to forgive, I was giving power to the one who needed forgiving to take my time and energy in harboring my resentment. It is human to want to hold on to those grudges, BUT GOD, will give us the grace to do just that.
    Good post, Victor! Love to see the discussion and questions!
    Blessings!

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    1. Indeed you are right, Lulu; and I would appreciate your views on this subject in my second post in a day or so.

      God bless.

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