Help me to forgive.
From today’s Scripture: “So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”—Mt 18:35
Peter approaches Jesus today in the Gospel and asks how often we must forgive our brothers and sisters when they sin against us. Jesus’ answer is very touching, “77 times” and not “seven times.” It basically means alway forgive. This Gospel on forgiveness awakens our understanding. The whole purpose why Jesus was sent among us as man, suffered and died for us on the cross, was to give us the gift of reconciliation with his Father and with all our brothers and sisters. Jesus wants all of us to have that wonderful experience of being forgiven, he chooses “77” times. He does not want us to experience this forgiveness for just a moment but for all eternity. For us to achieve this, he teaches us that we must forgive others always.
There is joy in forgiving. One realizes that to be able to forgive is a gift to ourselves, because when we forgive others, we free ourselves. When we forgive others and forgive ourselves too, we turn into newly created beings, shining with compassion and mercy. Therefore, forgiveness must be from the heart. As Christians, let us work on this daily. Our Father in heaven will forgive us, too, without hesitation.
Let us pray: Good and merciful Lord, transform my heart to understand how marvelously you made me. Give me the grace to be able to forgive from the heart as often as 77 times.
Today’s author is Glenmary student Cavine Okello, of Homabay, Kenya.
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