To err is human; to forgive, divine
“To err is human” is a well known saying about human nature; being imperfect, we inevitably make mistakes. If making mistakes is normal and natural, what makes forgiveness divine? To forgive is the nature of God, thus forgiveness is a divine act. It is easy to acknowledge our own mistakes, but it is difficult to grant forgiveness to others especially when we are unfairly wronged. So when we forgive, we are going against our human instincts of being angry, revengeful and bitter. We are working towards a higher level of discipline and acting beyond our human capabilities. When we experience God’s immense love and mercy, we can then carry out this godly act with ease. On the other hand, do not let the saying soften our resolve to strive for perfection even though imperfection is embedded in our nature——”Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48)
