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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Re: Revenge	John	Thursday, November 20, 2008
Question: Dear Bro., With regard to revenge, I too, believe that revenge can not only damage, but, if left unchecked, even destroy the human person in mind, body, and spirit. I believe that we, all of us, are tested by God to see how just how far we will advance in His service. Jesus left us with "Two Commandments", i.e., love God and love the neighbor as thyself. Revenge, like hate, is the opposite of love. We are commanded by God to love everyone and forgive those who have offended us. I know that Jesus loved everyone but I feel, in my heart, that Jesus did not like everyone He came in contact with. And so, my question is this: If I forgive my brother, pray for his conversion, his good health, happiness, and long life, and do so, with a sincere heart, is it wrong, or a sin, for me to separate myself from the company of that person? Thank you. May God continue to bless you and your ministry.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear John: Very good question. Forgiveness does not mean that we must maintain a relationship with the person. Forgiveness does not mean we must like the person, trust the person, entertain the person, or have any contact with the person. In many cases, not having contact with the person is very prudent. For example, certainly a woman does not need to invite her rapist to family dinner or have anything to do with him. But, she does need to forgive him. Someone who has hurt us my be untrustworthy. To trust them would be foolish. But, we must forgive them. In our Deliverance Counseling we have sessions on this very subject. We give our clients a packet of information. You can review that packet: Dealing with Bitterness and Unforgiveness (PDF file) God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Re: Revenge

John

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Question:

Dear Bro.,

With regard to revenge, I too, believe that revenge can not only damage, but, if left unchecked, even destroy the human person in mind, body, and spirit. I believe that we, all of us, are tested by God to see how just how far we will advance in His service.

Jesus left us with "Two Commandments", i.e., love God and love the neighbor as thyself. Revenge, like hate, is the opposite of love. We are commanded by God to love everyone and forgive those who have offended us. I know that Jesus loved everyone but I feel, in my heart, that Jesus did not like everyone He came in contact with.

And so, my question is this:

If I forgive my brother, pray for his conversion, his good health, happiness, and long life, and do so, with a sincere heart, is it wrong, or a sin, for me to separate myself from the company of that person?

Thank you. May God continue to bless you and your ministry.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear John:

Very good question. Forgiveness does not mean that we must maintain a relationship with the person.

Forgiveness does not mean we must like the person, trust the person, entertain the person, or have any contact with the person. In many cases, not having contact with the person is very prudent. For example, certainly a woman does not need to invite her rapist to family dinner or have anything to do with him. But, she does need to forgive him. Someone who has hurt us my be untrustworthy. To trust them would be foolish. But, we must forgive them.

In our Deliverance Counseling we have sessions on this very subject. We give our clients a packet of information. You can review that packet: Dealing with Bitterness and Unforgiveness (PDF file)

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum