Punished, Forgiven, Forgive! (Thursday, Week 19, Year 2)

As Ezekiel continued to prophesy, at a point it was like he was pouring water on a stone: the more he prophesied, the more rebellious the house of Israel became that it became very necessary for them to be corrected in a hard way. That was why he acted out what would befall the people in no distant time: he prepared for himself an exile’s baggage and went into exile himself (cf. Ezek. 12:1-12). This symbolic action was a clear message to the people that the die was cast: that exile was imminent and irrevocable. Since they did not see how far they have put themselves in moral or spiritual captivity (that is, the captivity of sin), it was good that they should experience the pains of physical captivity so that they might understand and then come back to their senses and repent. 

Of course, whatever that God does is good, beneficial and done purely out of love: even when he punishes us for our infidelity, it is for our good: it is neither an act of revenge on His part nor for His own satisfaction; but that we may become better. His patience, His punishments, His repeated forgiveness, His forbearance and so on are all meant to help us come back to our senses and go back to Him.

God keeps no grudge against us. As we recall how merciful, patient and forgiving God is to us, we may have to ask ourselves: are we also merciful, patient and forgiving towards those who wrong us? Many of us have chosen to go into a captivity of unforgiveness; always keeping grudges against others even over very minor offenses. We don’t need to and shouldn’t ever complain if we suffer on account of our refusal to forgive and free others of their offenses/sins against us. The story of the unforgiving servant (Matt. 18:21-19:1) has enough lessons for us in that regard. When Jesus asks us to forgive others “seventy times seven”, what he means is that WE MUST ALWAYS FORGIVE. It must be done not just for the good of those who offend us but for our own good, for our complete freedom.