We must always forgive

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?” Today’s gospel reading (Matthew 18:21-19:1) is a compliment to yesterday’s message. Yesterday’s gospel reading commanded us to seek out those that have trespassed against us and to heal the injury of their sin. So how many times must I forgive someone who trespasses against me? Peter guesses seven times. But Jesus responds, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.” Jesus is telling Peter that forgiveness should be unlimited. There is no specific number of times we should forgive somebody. Jesus explains this through the parable of the Unforgiving Servant. In this parable, the servant owes his master a very large debt and is unable to pay the debt back. He begs the master to forgive the debt and not send him to jail. Out of his kindness, the master forgives the debt. Likewise, a fellow servant owed this same person a very small debt and, as the first, could not pay the debt back. This servant also begged for patience from his fellow servant, but the servant refused and sent the man to jail. The master called this servant back before him and said, “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; 33 and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?” We too turn to God to ask him to remove the greatest burdens of our sins. But how can we ask to have these burdens removed if we can not forgive our fellow man for the sins he has committed against us. The parable tells us that we must always forgive others, no matter what and we must do it whole heartedly. If necessary we must force ourselves to forgive those that offend us from the very moment the sin occurs. The offense that they commit against you is nothing compared to what God has forgiven you.

A Simple Prayer “Lord, you have been kind and forgiving towards me. May I also be kind and merciful. Free me from the resentment I hold against my fellow man. Open my heart to the compassion you give to me."

Yours in Christ Michael Marcon