From Father Jim
“Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen take one or two others along with you, so that every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses... Amen I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three...’”
Which seems better, that everyone know about a disagreement with you, or discreetly find a way to address it, with no one else being aware of it? Certainly, there is faster healing resulting in peace and contentment.
One of the greatest powers we possess, is the power to forgive. Unfortunately, it is a power we seem to hold in reserve and often refuse to use.
How often we have heard the phrase ‘forgive and forget’, but an unfair accusation or allegation cannot be easily forgotten. A wise, holy monk taught me to respond to a hurt with ‘forgive and remember without bitterness.’ Try it, it works.