“Lord, if my brother sins against me,
Matthew 18:21
how often must I forgive?”
Reflection
Peter asks Jesus how many times he must forgive his brother – is seven times enough? Jesus answers that seven times is not enough, but rather seventy-seven. He then tells a parable about a wicked servant who has his debts forgiven by the king but then doesn’t forgive another servant who owes him money.
Jesus is instructing us that we must constantly forgive, again and again. It is not enough to forgive someone once, for they will almost certainly wrong us again, and then we must forgive them again at that time. In practicing forgiveness, our own hearts soften and become more like Christ’s.
Forgiveness can difficult to achieve, especially in today’s society that promotes hatred against others and holding grudges. Yet this is not the Christian way, and should be something we testify against. Forgiveness brings us to greater love and appreciation of those we encounter, helping us to become holy. How is Christ calling you to forgive today?
Saint of the Day
St. John Crysostom: ca. AD 349 – 407
| “So let the name of the saints enter our homes through the naming of our children, to train not only the child but the father, when he reflects that he is the father of John or Elijah or James.” St. John Crysostom |
