Forgiveness

‘How many times must I forgive?  Jesus answered, ‘I say to you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times!’

Jesus, in other words, instructs us to forgive without limits. 

There’s always someone, however, whom we find hard to forgive. 

When that happens, we usually try to justify our lack of mercy. 

We tell ourselves we’ve been patient enough.  We tell ourselves that no one, not even God, could expect us to reach out yet again! 

Still, there are few things heavier to carry than a grudge.  Jesus asks us to forgive, not only for the benefit of those who have wronged us, but also for our own healing and wholeness as well.  When we don’t forgive, we are hurting ourselves as well.

In justice, we must be willing to reach out continually to our brothers and sisters in forgiveness, no matter how often or how deeply they have hurt us. 

May our Lenten prayers and practices strengthen us with the grace to model true compassion, and to forgive others freely and fully.  For it will only be in so doing that we will then be totally forgiven ourselves, and draw ever closer to eternal life in the Father’s Kingdom of true and lasting peace.