Radical Forgiveness

Forgiveness is probably one of the hardest things to do, in my opinion. It is much easier to hate and hold a grudge against someone who has done you wrong. Yet I think it is very important to forgive to show to yourself, and to your wrongdoer, that you can move on. In this instance, Pope John Paul II went above and beyond when he forgave the man who shot him six times. Honestly, I'm not a perfect person and if someone had tried to kill me I don't think I would be capable of sitting down with that person and talking to them, showing my forgiveness. It takes someone with a lot of faith in the Lord and humanity itself to do such an act. To sit down and look the person in the eye who tried to kill you, and say that you forgive them. If I'm being honest, I dont think I would be able to do it. This relates to Immaculee's story because she did almost the same thing as Pope John Paul II. She met the man who killed her own brother, and told him that she forgave him. I said earlier that I would never be capable of sitting down with someone who tried to kill me and tell them I forgave them. It would be even harder for me to do that to a person who killed one of my family members. In a world full of hatred and violence, Immaculee and Pope John Paul II find it in themselves to make peace rather than succumb to the violence.

The Messy World

When I hear about immense suffering in the world it pulls on my heart strings, as I'm sure it does with many other people as well. Of course my first thought is to find someway to help them, whether it be to donate or to simply raise awareness. However, I'm ashamed to admit more times than not I do not do anything to help. Although my first thought is to help in any way possible, the situation is soon forgotten and in the past before I have the chance to do anything about it. When a friend is in need of my help though, it is easier to help because for one I have the ability to see them everyday and I know how to help them. I think the Gospel tells us that we should do anything that we can to help them whether small or big, anything would help. We can support this by simply caring more about other people in the world and not just about people you know. I'm not saying that everyone is selfish but in my opinion, people are more prone to jump at the opportunity to help when they know the person they are helping. If we all began to care for those people who we don't now, if we all began to put ourselves in the places of those people maybe we would all be more willing to do something about it.

Global Solidarity

I think that it is our job, simply as human beings, to help and support those women who are abused and taken advantage of. Unfortunately, it is not an uncommon thing anymore which is terribly sad and should be stopped. I think that in this specific case, it is mind boggling to hear that the mother-in-law of this girl was the one who was pushing her towards prostitution and then killed her because she refused. If solidarity means that we are all one family and part of the same world and should help each other and treat each other with respect, then we should be doing something to help and support these women. It is sad when girls live in fear of becoming victims of such violent crimes yet no one is there to help them. Thousands of people come together to raise awareness and money and support for natural disasters such as hurricanes and tsunami's, so why should this be any different. Perhaps money is not necessary but women definitely need help and protection and i think we should be helping to provide that.