Empowerment Series Volume 3 : Youth Forgiving, not forgetting

The third volume of the Empowerment Series focused on Forgiving, not forgetting, a topic inspired by the Holy Father’s latest document, Fratelli Tutti.

Apr 02, 2021

PENANG: The third volume of the Empowerment Series focused on Forgiving, not forgetting, a topic inspired by the Holy Father’s latest document, Fratelli Tutti. Led by guest speaker Fr Michael Raymond OFM Cap and hosted by Joshua Robert, the event brought together 40 participants from different age groups and parishes in all over Malaysia.

During the two-hour session, Fr Michael Raymond approached the topic by sharing and doing a Q & A. Then, it was followed by reflection and group sharing among the participants.

One of the most interesting questions raised during the session was ‘What to do when you remember the pain? This invited the participants to reflect on whether forgiving is really possible if they remember the pain caused by someone or something in their life. Giving an example to answer the question, Fr Michael told a story about Nelson Mandela, who was imprisoned and later released. Upon his release, when he was asked if he held any grudges towards his captors, Mandela simply answered ‘I just came out of a prison, I do not want to enter another one’.

Fr Michael further explained that what Mandela meant by his answer was that when he gained freedom, he did not want to be angry, bitter and revengeful with the memory of his imprisonment, because his heart would not be peaceful with those feelings. In short, a non-peaceful life would be another prison he had to live in.



Responding to the same question, Genevie Benjamin, one of the participants, also testified “To forgive is a choice, while to forget is never a choice, and life is full of choices. If I cannot forget the painful events, it doesn’t mean I cannot forgive the persons who caused my pain. I choose to forgive, to let go, to be transformed and to grow. I chooseJesus and I follow Jesus.” At the end of his talk, Fr Michael affirmed the participants to be wounded-healers, to be persons who can freely love others because they have chosen to forgive in spite of the wounds in their own lives. Indeed, a very meaningful affirmation to all of us.



This topic, which according to the participants was, ‘a hard pill to swallow, yet important’ has beautifully linkedthe Lenten season, a time of renewal with the act of forgiveness. We remember what Pope Francis said in his homily on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, ‘God always forgives! He never tires of forgiving. It is we who tire of asking for forgiveness”.

Therefore, brothers and sisters in Christ, let us continually ask from the Lord, the grace of forgiveness. — By Crietel Philip, Penang Diocesan Youth Network

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