Forgiveness

"Jean Voujons my brother, you no longer belong to evil. With this silver, I bought your soul. I have ransomed you from fear and hatred and given you back to God."

- Les Miserables

While God, through his son Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world has paid the price for our souls for the end times; man has been given an equally great charge.  As our Heavenly Father forgives us our trespasses, so must we as mankind forgive one another.  Forgiveness is the till of the soul readying the fields for the word of truth to be planted.  From its prepared soil, the tree of life blossoms with fragrant flora drawing all who smell the freshness and beauty of its aroma.  With time and prayer, the tree of life bears the fruit of the spirit which is used to further the ends of the Lord and sate the hunger for completion and purpose.  And the seeds of that fruit, of which all mankind may eat, is then planted in new fields of souls for those who hunger for purpose and salvation.  It is not the act of eating the fruit that brings us salvation, but the act of laboring in the fields planting the seeds of truth in all who'll accept it willingly. 

The man, Jean Voujons was a thief.  This thief stole a loaf of bread because he was hungry.  As he journeyed to Dijon for parole, he stayed at the home of a Monsignor.  Righteous was the monsignor, for he gave Jean a place to sleep and a hot meal to eat.  As thanks for his generosity, Voujons stole the Monsignor's silver settings and tore away.  Caught with the stolen silver, the man was brought back to the Monsignor whom said, that yes, he gave Jean the silver.  Shocked and dismayed, Voujons wept in conviction and shame for what he had done.  For he had never been shown any mercy before now, and it broke his heart.  The monsignor told him "Jean Voujons my brother, you no longer belong to evil. With this silver, I bought your soul. I have ransomed you from fear and hatred and given you back to God." 

It is our call, brothers and sisters in Christ, to bless those around us and to give of ourselves willingly with a heart of thanksgiving.  It is our call to forgive those who wrong us, and to have mercy.  The act of mercy and forgiveness breaks the chains of entrapment.  Mercy is the sword in which injustice is slain and forgiveness is the shield that protects us from the carnal instincts that drive us to take vengeance and to forgo forgiveness.  The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.  The wages of mercy and forgiveness is life and justice for all.