Franciscan Sisters of the Poor US Area

When Henry Lewis Gates, the Harvard professor who was arrested on his own front porch (July 15, 2009), speaks of Nelson Mandela, he insists that Mandela always has been a free man, because he was free from any need or desire for revenge. Ever since his release from prison, Mandela has given the whole world a demonstration of forgiveness. He has shown us that it takes more courage, more stamina, more humanity to forgive than to say “let my people go.” And his attitude can be applied by each one of us.

The only thing that may be harder than forgiving a transgressor is being that transgressor and accepting the extended hand of forgiveness. In order to acknowledge that you are being forgiven you have to admit to and acknowledge that you have done something that requires forgiveness. You have to swallow your pride. The pride that keeps us from forgiving another person is the same pride that prevents us from accepting forgiveness. If forgiveness is so hard—why do it?

The power and purpose of giving forgiveness is to release us from pain and free us to participate in life once again. The power and purpose of accepting forgiveness is to free you from self-diminishing guilt, to allow yourself to be your best self so that you can participate fully in the human community. 

The word “participatory” comes close to defining the highest good in African society. It is the core meaning of the word “ubuntu” and is enshrined in the Xhasa proverb: “a person is a person through persons.” “Ubuntu” affirms an organic wholeness of humanity: that one realizes one’s full potential only through other people. “I think, therefore I am” is replaced by, “I participate, therefore I am.” Life together is the quintessence of an African understanding of what it means to be human.

        “Mandela was participating.” Ubuntu.

        A person is a person through persons! Ubuntu.

Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Ubuntu.