Show Notes

Episode 37. Forgiveness: Living In Freedom

Episode 37. Forgiveness: Living In Freedom

"Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

~ Colossians 3:13

In the prayer that Jesus gave us, we hear: "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." We pray these words so often that we can overlook how challenging, and even unpopular, we find the reality of forgiveness. We have all been hurt by others, sometimes in profound and life-altering ways. Why would Jesus command us to do something as difficult - maybe even irrational - as forgiving?

In episode 37 of "This Whole Life", Kenna and Pat Millea delve into the complexities of forgiveness with Fr. Nathan LaLiberte. Together, they explore the spiritual, emotional, and psychological freedom that forgiveness brings, emphasizing its importance for personal wholeness and healthy relationships. The conversation touches on the challenges of seeking and offering forgiveness, the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation, and the significance of self-forgiveness. Drawing from Christian truths and psychological perspectives, the episode offers insights into the transformative power of forgiveness, emphasizing the ongoing process of releasing resentment and embracing personal freedom. Begin or continue your path toward freedom and healing with this impactful conversation!

Show Notes

  • An article from Johns Hopkins on the medical benefits of forgiveness

  • Forgiveness can begin with radical acceptance: accepting the truth of the way things are & living in reality

  • We can never forgive without the grace & action of God

    • “Forgiveness is a high-point of Christian prayer; only hearts attuned to God's compassion can receive the gift of prayer.”
      ~ Catechism of the Catholic Church §2844

  • What is the debt owed to you that you need to forgive?

  • Forgiveness is a process, it happens in layers (“Forgive seventy times seven…”)

  • The Serenity Prayer:

    • God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
      The courage to change the things I can
      And the wisdom to know the difference

  • Some additional Scripture verses on forgiveness:

    • “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
      ~ Ephesians 4:32

    • “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
      ~ Mark 11:25

    • “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
      ~ 1 John 1:9

    • Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.
      ~ Matthew 18:21-22

Challenge By Choice

Pray & Reflect with the “air traffic controller” image of forgiveness

  • How many planes (places of unforgiveness) are in the sky for you?

  • How can you bring some of them to the ground so that you can see more clearly and begin to move toward forgiveness?