Luke 17: 1-6 (Monday, November 12, 2007 – Feast of St. Josephat)

We all have had occasions when we have forgiven someone who has wronged us one or two times and we conclude that we will never forgive again because the person is making a fool of us. If in forgiving those who sincerely ask for forgiveness, we are making a fool of ourselves, Jesus wants us to be fools in forgiving. Remember that people did not understand why anyone in his right senses will choose to die a shameful death on the Cross for his enemies. When Jesus prayed on the Cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing,” the people may have thought he is foolish. When you live radically the Christian vocation, people will think you are foolish. Just as Jesus Christ does not impose limits on the amount of mercy he shows to us, so he does not want us put limits on how much we can forgive. This is the distinctiveness of the Christian dogma. In other religions, it is an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth; but in Christianity, we are invited to forgive those who hurt us as many times as possible. Is it easy to forgive? No. However, God has given us the graces we need to be able to forgive those who hurt us. We need faith to be able to forgive. When we forgive, we bring healing not only to the person who has offended us, but we become healed ourselves.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for your forgiveness which you gave to us on the Cross of Calvary. Help us every day of our lives to grow in the spirit of forgiveness, that we may generous forgive all those whom we find the most difficult to forgive.