We live in the age of the “therapeutic culture,” where only our own truth and feelings matter. It is a culture that has a “religion without grace.” Hence, our culture sees forgiveness more negatively than positively. It sees forgiveness as allowing oppression to maintain its power, thus permitting the cycle of violence and abuse. The moral pressure to forgive is seen as a further burden on the victim and an easy escape for the perpetrator. Fr. Ron Rolheiser asks, “Is this logic correct?” From a purely emotional point of view, he says “yes,” it feels right; but it is wrong when scrutinized more deeply. Vindictiveness will only produce more vindictiveness. Only forgiveness can take violence and hatred out of a relationship. Jesus sees forgiveness as the most important of all virtues, as it decides whether we go to heaven or not. When Jesus teaches us the Lord’s Prayer, its words tell us that if we fail to forgive others, God will not be able to forgive us. Why? Because, to sit at the banquet table of eternal life, only those willing to sit down with everyone can take a seat. God cannot change this. Only we can open our hearts sufficiently to sit down with everyone. If there is a litmus test for Christian Discipleship, it is our ability to forgive from the heart.