Imagine not forgiving yourself

Today, on Easter Sunday, I want to share a thought for those (like me) that have a hard time believing that Jesus actually rose from the dead, or who maybe don't even care or don't see the relevance of this for their own lives. If on Friday I invited believers to suspend their belief for a moment, today I encourage the doubters to suspend their disbelief for this brief meditation.

According to the Christian belief Jesus was living a life of love and dedication for the people around him, and yet the people condemned him unjustly and nailed him to a cross. The Gospel recounts that even there on the cross, while the people mocked him, Jesus prayed: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."  Theologically speaking, the death of Jesus is all about forgiveness, and his resurrection from the dead is God's confirmation that this is the way - that love and forgiveness are victorious in the end.

God extends this forgiveness to the whole world - showing all of us grace. Grace means total acceptance - acceptance despite past failures or current flaws, no matter how numerous. The importance of this is also stressed in other worldviews such as Stoicism and Buddhism. Psychologists, too, acknowledge the fundamental role of self-forgiveness. Nonetheless, in my opinion Christianity manages to express it in one of the most moving ways. I invite you to read and fully experience the following words by Paul Tillich right now:

"You are accepted. You are accepted, accepted by that which is greater than you, and the name of which you do not know. Do not ask for the name now; perhaps you will find it later. Do not try to do anything now; perhaps later you will do much. Do not seek for anything; do not perform anything; do not intend anything. Simply accept the fact that you are accepted!"