“A change of perspective allows us to separate the culprit from his fault” (on forgiveness, inspired by Jim McManus CSsR)

Let me start with a quote from Jim McManus CSsR: ‘A change of perspective allows us to separate the culprit from his fault. When someone acts badly, we naturally focus on the evil and see that person as a ‘bad person’. However, a person is more than the evil he or she commits. The wrong-doer should not be confused with wrong-doing or the sinner with sin. Christian wisdom says that one should hate the sin, but not the sinner. One must condemn evil and forgive those who have done evil.” (the translation is from Polish)

Man is by nature sinful, prone to sin. The evil we do will always remain evil. However, the sinner should not be condemned because he can repent. No one is free from temptations to sin. Sometimes we fall into sin, but a merciful and loving God is waiting for us to be reconciled to Him. In the Catholic Church, the sacrament of Penance is used for this reconciliation with God.

God bless you.

Dariusz Łukasik