The Spirits’ Teachings

Forgiveness of Offenses

14. How many times should I forgive my brother or sister? Not seven times, but seventy times seven. This is one of Jesus’ teachings that should strike your mind the hardest and speak to your heart the loudest. Compare these words of mercy with the prayer so simple, so concise and so great in its aspirations which Jesus gave to his disciples, and you will discover the same thought.

Jesus – righteousness par excellence – responds to Peter: You shall forgive without limit; you shall forgive every offense as many times as it is committed against you; you shall teach your brothers and sisters that forgetfulness of self, which makes them invulnerable to attack, evil behavior and insult; you shall be meek and humble of heart without ever measuring your kindness; in short, you shall do for others what you would want your heavenly Father to do for you. Has he not forgiven you often? Does he count the number of times his forgiveness has descended to wipe away your wrongs?

So, listen to  Jesus’  answer, and,  like Peter, apply it  to yourselves.  Forgive, be indulgent, charitable, generous –  even lavish – with your love. Give, because the Lord will repay you; forgive, because the Lord will forgive you; abase yourselves, because the Lord will lift you up; humble yourselves, because the Lord will sit you at his right hand.

Dearly beloved, go study and comment on these words I am addressing to you on behalf of the One who, from the heights of the heavenly splendors, always watches over you, and continues with love the ungrateful task that he began eighteen centuries ago.25 Therefore, forgive your brothers and sisters, as you yourselves have need of being forgiven. If their actions do you personal harm, it is one more reason for you to be indulgent, for the merit of forgiveness is proportional to the seriousness of the evil. There will be no merit in forgiving the errors of your brothers and sisters if they have done only little harm.

O Spiritists, never forget that in words as well as in actions forgiveness of wrongs must not be an empty expression. If you say you are Spiritists, then be so; forget the evil that has been done to you and think of one thing only: the good you can do. Those who enter upon this path must not wander from it even in thought, because they are responsible for their thoughts, known by God. Therefore, empty your thoughts of any sentiment of rancor. God knows what lies at the bottom of each one’s heart. So, happy are they who can go to sleep every night, saying: I have nothing against my neighbor.

Simeon (Bordeaux, 1862)