Forgiveness must begin with me

On the 8th November 1987, a bomb exploded in the centre of Enniskillen, killing eleven people.  Enniskillen would have gone down in history as yet another atrocity in a litany of terrible deeds were it not for the actions of one man, Gordon Wilson.

Gordon's daughter, Marie, died in the bomb, and in front of the world he first forgave those responsible.  All around the world, news networks carried the words of forgiveness uttered by this deeply Christian gentleman.

Forgiveness is a radical option in our world today.  Were it not - Wilson's words would not have been picked up by the media.

The world has grown old because we continue to repeat the age old cycles of harm and recrimination and revenge.  In families, communities, societies, and between peoples and nations, we have yet to learn the power of the politics of forgiveness.

When Jesus forgives the woman in today's gospel, He is offering a life changing alternative to the world but few still choose to accept it. 

Today Jesus offers me a radical way to live my life - the way of forgiveness.  It is the only hope for our world and it must begin with me.

Fr. Ruairi O’Domhnaill, Newbridge

Gospel reading can be found at Catholic Ireland.net