Forgiving the Office Drama
“Then Peter approaching asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him?” (Matthew 18:21)
Alright, let's get real for a sec. I'm not writing this because I've cracked the code on forgiveness—ha, nope! I'm just a gal who's been through the workplace wringer and keeps tripping over the same call from Christ, "Forgive one another!" (Matthew 6:12, 14-15)
Throughout my career, I've faced moments that have tested my faith and resilience: leaving a cherished job due to company mandates that clashed with Catholic teaching; enduring colleagues who belittled others as if it were part of the employee handbook; leaving a position in pursuit of greater growth only to encounter resistance from leadership for charting a new course. Each experience brought its share of awkwardness and stress, exacerbating the difficult situation.
Through it all, I've grappled with forgiveness — a struggle I'm far from mastering, with no gold medal in sight! I'm writing this because I struggle with it. Christ keeps nudging me to let go, and I'm betting some of you are in the same boat. So, grab a coffee and let's talk about forgiving the folks who sometimes make work feel like a soap opera—but with wisdom from our Catholic faith and maybe a chuckle or two.
First off, let's clear up what forgiveness isn't.
It's not like you hit a magical "erase" button and poof — your coworker's snarky email or your boss's broken promise vanishes from your brain. Nope, that stuff sticks like glitter after a craft project. Forgiveness is about choosing to let go of the grudge, even when you'd rather clutch it.
Think of the Lord's Prayer: "...Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" (Matthew 6:12). Now, let's look to Jesus. He didn't pretend Peter's denial never happened. He called him out, but then restored him with love by that campfire chat in John 21:15-19. And the call to forgive "seventy times seven" in Matthew 18:21-22? It's not about keeping tally (because who has time for that?), but about forgiving as endlessly as God forgives us.
Let’s circle back to the whole “forgiveness isn’t a magical erase button” statement, because let’s be honest, wouldn’t it be nice if we could just zap away the sting when something hurtful happens to us? The Catechism of the Catholic Church drops some serious wisdom that’s a spiritual game-changer; CCC 2843 says: “It’s not in our power to not feel or to forget an offense; but the heart that offers itself to the Holy Spirit turns injury into compassion and purifies the memory in transforming the hurt into intercession.” Bam! Isn’t that just the best news? By surrendering to the Holy Spirit, we let God take that raw, ugly wound and flip it into something beautiful: compassion for the person who hurt us and prayers for their good.
The saints have some serious wisdom for us, too.
Take St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower. She worked in a convent, which was basically her 9-to-5, and worked with nuns who drove her nuts—okay, I might be exaggerating a bit here, but there was a nun who splashed laundry water in her face (rude)! Thérèse didn’t storm off; she offered it up to Jesus, turning annoyances into opportunities for sanctification! (Story of a Soul, Manuscript B, Chapter IX (ICS Publications, 1996)
Then there’s St. Faustina, who had to deal with some serious convent drama. In her Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul, she spills the tea on how her fellow sisters in the 1930s sometimes treated her like the odd one out, questioning her sanity or envying her closeness to Christ.
Instead of clapping back, St. Faustina leaned into Jesus' words: "My daughter, be always like a little child; love everyone, and pray for all, even for those who harm you" (Diary, entry 1962). Talk about a mic-drop moment! When a colleague's gossip or a boss's unfair critique stings, think of St. Faustina. She didn't just forgive, she turned those hurts into prayers! (Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul, entries 145, 1692, and related passages Marian Press, 2007)
So, how do we practice this in the daily grind?
Start small. When your coworker continuously interrupts you in a meeting, take a deep breath and pray, “Lord, grant me patience," echoing St. Paul's call to "bear with one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2). It's not about suppressing your frustration but redirecting it to God.
If a client stiffs you on a payment, head to Adoration. Kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament, picture leaving that betrayal at the foot of the Cross, where Christ Himself bore our burdens.
If office gossip tempts you to join the fray, recall Sirach 28:7 — "Remember the commandments, and do not be angry with your neighbor" — and choose silence or a kind word instead. These small acts build the muscle of forgiveness.
Set boundaries—forgiveness doesn’t mean sticking around for round two of toxicity.
Setting boundaries in the workplace, even as we forgive, is a practical act of prudence rooted in our Catholic faith. Forgiveness doesn’t mean inviting more toxicity for a sequel no one asked for. It’s about loving others as Christ loves us while guarding the dignity He’s given us.
When I faced toxicity in the workplace, forgiveness meant letting go of bitterness. But Proverbs 4:23 – “With all vigilance guard your heart, for in it are the sources of life.” — urged me to distance myself from that environment entirely.
St. Teresa of Ávila, a master of balancing charity and clarity, navigated convent politics with grace but firmly set limits with those who undermined her reforms. Forgiveness frees us to love, but boundaries, grounded in discernment, ensure we’re not signing up for a rerun of someone else’s bad behavior.
Forgiving frees you.
Holding onto resentment is like carrying a backpack full of rocks. It slows you down, kills your vibe, and makes you a grumpy witness to Christ’s love.
Christ keeps calling us to forgive, not because it’s easy, but because it’s how we become more like Him. So, next time your colleague tests your patience, think of St. Thérèse, pray like St. Faustina, and maybe find some humor in it and laugh a little, too. With God’s grace, let us turn our workplaces into little outposts of mercy — one forgiven coworker at a time.
Amber Apple is a Digital Marketing Manager by day and a writer by night. When she’s not weaving tales for her novel, you can find her in her natural habitat — snuggled up on the couch, lost in the pages of a captivating book, clutching a steaming cup of tea. Her love language is baking French pastries, so if you’re craving a daily dose of mouthwatering recipes and delightful musings, visit her blog, mrsamberapple.com, or connect with her on Instagram @mrsamberapple.