Running head: ARTICLE REVIEW 3
Article Review 3
Joshua Berry
COMS 560
Liberty University
ARTICLE REVIEW 3
Article Review 3
The article that I chosen to review from this week’s reading, is titled Brokenness,
Forgiveness, Healing and Peace in Ireland by Geraldine Smyth. The author opens up this article
by speaking about the current state of forgiveness and reconciliation in Ireland. She goes on to
describe Ireland as being broken and divided amongst citizens. Additionally, Smyth, describes
the solution to Ireland’s problems regarding a lack of forgiveness and reconciliation and turning
to Jesus Christ in addressing these problems. She describes that state of reconciliation in Ireland
as follows; “In the quest for peace in Ireland there is a strange dialect of innocence and betrayal,
sin and forgiveness, memory and the reconciling of memories” [Smy02].
Smyth makes reference to a book titled Lost Lives, which is a book that gives account of
the casualties that occurred during the Northern Ireland Troubles, a guerilla style war that
occurred in the late twentieth century. Geraldine Smyth specifically writes on the account of the
death of Philip Maguire and also the references to his wife, Shelia Maguire. She brings up this
story to point towards the strength of Shelia Maguire in terms of forgiveness and peace. Even
though Maguire’s husband was killed in senseless violence, she still had the strength to express
that there was no need for retaliation and there needed to be forgiveness. “I found myself
recalling forgotten details of the summer evening in their home in Belfast, the part of the room
where I had sat with Shelia, unable to find words, hearing her insisting that there must be no
retaliation; the family rallying around, the disbelief in the young eyes, and the word ‘forgive’
spoken in whispers” [Smy02].
Beyond the story of the Maguire family, Smyth goes on to describe the notion of
forgiveness in such a difficult situation, specifically how it applies to Christians. The article
makes reference to an excellent series of verses from the book of Matthew, the verses describe
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the qualities of peacemaking, forgiveness, and things of the like. Matthew 5:4-9 reads as follows;
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will
inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be
filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for
they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” This
piece of scripture expresses the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation among Christians,
even at times as tough as those faced by the friends and families affected by the Northern Ireland
Troubles.
One of the other major points made in this article regard being aware of brokenness and
division amongst one another. More importantly, Smyth describes the importance of being self-
aware and how it relates to addressing brokenness and division. “Self-knowledge is the
beginning of wisdom. It calls us to a conversion in thinking and to an awareness of the levels of
alienation within and between different traditions. Here we need to be on guard against
temptations to self-absorption” [Smy02]. Self-awareness of a particular problem such as
brokenness is the first step in working towards forgiveness and reconciliation. Once someone
becomes self-aware of an issue, they can then begin working towards resolving that issue.
In closing, Smyth describes forgiveness as a benefit that can be given to others as well as
a benefit Christians have received from Jesus Christ. This is an important point to remember
because forgiveness and reconciliation should not be perceived as some kind of daunting task, it
should be perceived as a privilege, a gift, just as Smyth describes it. “Moving on in the journey
of reconciliation will require a capacity to recognize that the logic of the gift invites us to give
because we have abundantly received, to forgive because we have been prodigally forgiven, and
to live by grace in return for grace received” [Smy02]. This article is a reminder that while
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forgiveness and reconciliation can prove to be difficult at times, it is very rewarding and
beneficial above all. Forgiveness and reconciliation are gifts received by all when properly
applied.
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