T. 19. IV. D. 11 – 15. Jesus: “Until your forgiveness is complete, you still stand as un-forgiving! And because you fear your brother, you are afraid of God. Those you do not forgive, you fear! And no one reaches love with any fear beside him!
This brother, who stands beside you, still seems to be a stranger to you. You do not know him, and your interpretation of him is very fearful. And you attack him still, to keep what seems to be yourself unharmed. Yet in his hands is your salvation. You still see his madness, which you hate because you share it. And all the empathy and forgiveness that would heal the madness still gives way to fear.
Brother, you need forgiveness of your brother, for you will share in madness or in Heaven together! And you will raise your eyes in faith together, or not at all.
Beside you is one who offers you the chalice of Atonement, for the Holy Spirit is in him. Would you hold his sins against him, or accept his gift to you? Is this giver of salvation your friend or your enemy? Choose which he is, remembering that you will receive of him according to your choice. He has in him the power to forgive your sins, as you for him. Neither can give it to himself alone. And yet your savior stands beside each one of you. Let him be what he is, and seek not to make of love an enemy!
Behold your Friend, the Christ Who stands beside you! How holy and how beautiful He is! You thought He sinned because you cast the veil of sin upon Him to protect yourself and hide His loveliness. Yet still He holds out to you forgiveness, to share with you His holiness. This ‘enemy,’ this ‘stranger at the gate,’ still offers you salvation as His Friend. The ‘enemies of Christ,’ the worshippers of sin, know not Whom they attack. This is your brother, crucified by sin and waiting for release from pain. Would you not offer him forgiveness, when only he can offer it to you?
For your brother’s redemption, he will give you yours, just as surely as God created every living thing, and loves it eternally. And he will give it truly, for it will be both offered and received.”