Are You Ready to Forgive Your Enemies
February 8, 2020
Recently, after our visit to Masada, which is one of the fortresses King Herod the Great built, we had a chance to visit another place called Ein Gedi near the Dead sea. Ein Gedi is an oasis with waterfalls, pools of water and two large streams which are found on the western shore of the Dead Sea in the Judean desert. The name Ein Gedi comes from two words: “Ein” which means “spring,” and “Gedi” which means “Kid” (young one of a goat). Therefore, Ein Gedi means the spring of the goat. The place was named so because there is a significant number of wild goats and other wildlife that live within the caves of the Judean mountains.
Besides being a home to wildlife, it has also been a home and place of refuge for many people including King David. During his persecution by King Saul, David together with his men, hid in the caves of Ein Gedi (1 Samuel 24). Therefore, our coming to Ein Gedi was intended to help us reflect on the act of mercy and forgiveness that happen at this place.
During David`s hiding in the caves, King Saul came searching for him. And in this search, king Saul happened to fall into the hands of David, who despite being persuaded by his men to take Saul`s life, did not do it. He instead decided to spare his life even though King Saul was ready to take his life. What David did was an extraordinary act which many of us can’t do. The world we live in today is a broken world where mercy and forgiveness are none existent.
However, as Christians, we are always called to “be merciful as our Father in heaven is merciful” (Luke 6:34). Meaning that, let us forgive all those who do us wrong. Don’t take revenge. Make peace with one another, and so forth. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, taking the example of King David, we should learn to forgive one another. Where revenge fosters hatred, instability and sometimes death, forgiveness brings about peace, love, joy, and harmony in the society.
Falasiko Matovu
Diocese of Kiyinda-Mityana, Uganda.
