Forgiveness and the Golden Rule 

We discussed how there are two basic tenets in Jesus’ teachings: There is an eternal life in paradise waiting for us if we follow the right path, and we should do our utmost to help each other follow that path.

With respect to the second part—doing our best to help each another—Jesus gave us what is known as the Golden Rule: “Do to others what you would have them to do you.” (Matthew 7:12: Luke 6:31)

He then spelled-out clearly what is expected, notably in Luke 6:27: “. . love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. . .”

This was yet another radical idea—you must love those who hate you, and bless those who wrong you? This seems an almost impossible request—we’re only human, after all, and our natural reaction is to seek retribution. But Jesus goes on to point out: “For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them and lend expecting nothing back, then your reward will be great. . .” (Luke 6:33)

We are also asked to be examples: “You are the light of the world. . .just so, your light must shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:13) 

There are millions of unsung heroes—those who have forgiven even the most heinous wrongs quietly and without fanfare, but here are three more famous examples:

Pope John Paul II and his assassin. In May 1981, Pope John Paul II was the victim of an assassination attempt by a Muslim radical. The Pope nearly died, and never fully recovered from the attack. As soon as he was well enough, he visited his attacker in prison and the two spoke quietly for about twenty minutes. “What we talked about will have to remain a secret between him and me,” the Pope said as he emerged from the cell. “I spoke to him as a brother whom I have pardoned and who has my complete trust.”

Immaculee Ilibagiza survived the 1994 Rwandan genocide by hiding for 91 days with seven other women in a tiny 3-by-4-foot bathroom at a Hutu pastor's home.  During this ordeal, she lost her mother, father, and two brothers to the violence. She went on to become a motivational speaker and best-selling author on the topic of forgiveness, and later founded an orphanage for African children.

Louis Zamperini: An Olympic runner and bombardier who survived nearly three years of brutal torture in Japanese POW camps, Zamperini later visited his captors to offer forgiveness—although his chief tormentor refused to meet with him.