Matthew 18: 21 - 19-1 (Thursday, August 16, 2007)

Without faith, it is difficult to forgive others who have offended you. You need faith to recognize that through the event of the Cross, Jesus Christ has forgiven you all your sins. Saint Paul tells us that Jesus died for us while we were still living in sin. He forgave us and offered his life for our salvation even before we asked for forgiveness. As he has forgiven us, he invites us today to forgive other people. We should not place limits on how much we forgive, but generously forgive as Jesus continues to forgive us. There is no offense your fellow human person can commit against you that is greater than that which you have committed against God. If he whom we have offended the most forgive you, why can you not in the same way forgive those who have offended you?

Forgiveness brings us healing. It makes us whole. Until we forgive, we do not feel whole. Our moods always change when we encounter the person that has offended us. As Christians, the right thing to do is to ask for forgiveness even if we are the ones that have been offended. That is the Christian difference that we must take seriously.

Forgiveness from the heart does not mean that you forget that the event ever took place. It means not holding the offence against the person that offends you. This also means not keeping records of offences you have forgiven. Like Jesus, forgive without counting the offences.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us today all our failings, as we continue to forgive those who offend us. Give us the graces we need to forgive those who have hurt us the most and those we feel, we cannot forgive.