July 22, 2010
Balan Joseph says forgiving the murderers of his wife and daughter brought inner peace

A Catholic who lost his wife and daughter when a bomb exploded inside Kathmandu’s Assumption Church over a year ago is now giving talks on forgiveness to Christians.

“I have felt a great inner peace after I forgave, met and reconciled with the bombers,” Balan Joseph told participants at a three-day meeting on forgiveness and reconciliation.

“The main mastermind claims to have converted to Christianity and he prays actively inside the jail,” Balan told the July 20-22 meeting organized by Christian groups United Mission to Nepal and Micah Network Nepal. “As for myself, I have offered my children’s future to God and feel very free inside.”

Joseph’s wife and daughter were among three people killed when a bomb exploded in Assumption Church on May 23, 2009.

During a commemoration of the tragedy earlier this year, he said he had forgiven the culprits and was praying for them.

Balan has since gone to various Christian churches and gatherings in Kathmandu to speak on forgiveness.

His two surviving children, Sylvester and Chelsea, accompanied him for the first time for his recent talk.

“For two months after the blast I had felt a spiritual weakening inside and doubted if I would be able to work or bring up my children,” he told the gathering. “But the priests and nuns of my church urged me not to lose hope.”

He said he was inspired by the example of Saint Paul, who had killed Christians before his conversion, to forgive the woman who planted the bomb. “We need Saint Pauls in today’s world and how will we get them if we do not give a chance to people to change?” he asked.