On reflection, forgiveness and penance
When a person is around 60 years old, it is necessary to look back and reflect on one's life. In other words, we must reflect on and repent our mistakes as we live our lives. In the Analects of Confucius, Confucius mentions the following phrase twice. “When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.” Confucius placed great importance on reflecting on and correcting mistakes.
Next, we must live a life of reconciliation, forgiveness and penance.
The synopsis of the Korean film "Secret Sunshine" released in 2007 is as follows: After her husband dies in a car accident, the main character, Shin-ae, moves down to her husband’s hometown and runs a piano academy. However, her young son is kidnapped and murdered. Shin-ae accepts her son's death and converts to Christianity to forgive the culprit. She tries to practice the love of Jesus.
Jesus also said as follows when he was unjustly killed on the cross. “God, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Here we learn about Jesus’ love and forgiveness. If we do not forgive others, there is only one path to destruction. However, sometimes there are people who think it is justifiable to dish out appropriate punishment to others. However, revenge only creates a vicious cycle of violence. We must reflect on what we have done wrong to our neighbors, what we have done morally wrong when we have been lazy, and what we have done selfishly. A life without reflection has no future and is like building a castle on sand.
Next, we must live a life of penance. To put it simply, it means receiving forgiveness for the sins committed in our life. In other words, it refers to repaying our wrongdoings through charity work, relief work in war zones and donations, etc.
A movie that depicts penance well is "The Mission." The meaning of mission is “sacred duty.” The film is set in South America in 1750. Father Julian is captured by the Guaraní tribe and is tied to a cross to die. Then, Fathers Gabriel and Fielding discover this. However, the two are not afraid and begin missionary work again. When Father Gabriel is surrounded by natives and is about to die, he plays the oboe, and at this time the haunting theme “Gabriel's Oboe,” composed by Ennio Morricone, appears. The natives, moved by the mysterious sound, accepted the priest, and eventually, they accept Christianity.
The scene changes again, and Captain Rodrigo, a former mercenary who sold the Guaraní people into slavery, appears. However, Rodrigo kills his half-brother Felipe whom he discovers in bed with his fiancé, Carlotta, and then finds himself living in his own mental prison cell. At this time, Gabriel appears, and Rodrigo is influenced by him and goes on a mission together. He packs his heavy armor and weapons, drags them behind him in a net, and sets out on a mission of penance and repentance. When there is another encounter with the Guaraní people, the natives want to kill him, but they forgive him because they have decided to believe in the religion of love. They join forces to build a village and a cathedral. Here we can learn from Rodrigo's pursuit of penance about repenting and making amends for our sins.
The writer is retired teacher at Pungmoon Girls' High School in Seoul.