The essence of forgiveness

One of Napoleon's soldiers committed a crime - the story does not explain what exactly - and he was condemned to death.
On the evening before he was due to be shot, the soldier's mother came to plead for her son's life to be spared.
'Madam, your son's action does not deserve clemency.'
'I know,' said the mother."If it did, then it would have been reason and justice , not true forgiveness. To forgive is the ability to go beyond vengeance or justice.'
When he heard those words, Napoleon commuted the death sentence to exile.

How many of us really forgive others and self ? We forgive , iff we believe that it was the action to be pardoned. We do not forgive if we think that the action can not be pardoned in any case. Well, in truth, we just judge. We never forgive.

Judgement is the vehicle of reason and not of compassion. One can go on judging others and self, but will never know nature of true forgiveness. Because to forgive is to look beyond reason. It is that deep sense of connectedness with all , that brings in compassion to forgive all for no reason. There are enough reasons for judgement , but only one to forgive. You forgive - to be your self.

Let the Lord grant us nature of true forgiveness so that we all are purified.
Amen...