"Love one another as I have loved you."

Dear Parishioners,

        Today’s readings on forgiveness may be challenging and unsettling. Not only are we exhorted to avoid anger and wrath, but we also hear from Jesus a warning about what may happen to us if we fail to forgive others. Reflecting on the parable of the unmerciful servant helps us understand how the greatness of God’s mercy both challenges us to forgive those who have sinned against us and enables us to do so. As God has forgiven us, so must we forgive one another; as God has loved us, so can we love one another.

        In our fallen world, where sin strains and breaks our relationships with God and one another, we will all suffer hurt and harm from others’ choices – some more gravely than others. When people sin against us, we will feel real emotional pain. Regarding forgiveness, the Catechism says: “It is not in our power not to feel or to forget an offense, but the heart that offers itself to the Holy Spirit turns injury into compassion and purifies the memory in transforming the hurt into intercession” (CCC 2843).

       When we find ourselves fixating on memories of the hurt inflicted upon us, we are invited to bring them to the Lord. He, in turn, can grant us the grace to look upon the person who has harmed us with compassion. As we come to recognize the likely brokenness in their life that led to their harmful actions, the Spirit moves us to pray for them. This is already a powerful step toward forgiveness.

        In this light, our Lord’s exhortation to forgive not seven times but seventy-seven times (Mt 21:22) points us toward what is possible with God’s help. Through God’s grace, we are capable not only of forgiving once or a handful of times but also of forgiving an unfathomable number of times. If we reflect on the patience and compassion God has shown us, we will be equipped to extend the same mercy to others.

       How is this tireless forgiveness possible? Only through God’s love. Our merciful king does not sit on his throne, far from us, expecting us to forgive others on our own strength. God, our merciful king, is close to those who have suffered harm and been sinned against. God knows human pain through the suffering of his Son, Jesus. Moved with compassion, the Lord has reconciled us with him in baptism and patiently forgives our sins in the sacrament of reconciliation. By partaking in the Eucharist and sharing in our Lord’s Body and Blood, we are reconciled with one another and strengthened as we strive to keep forgiving. Close to the brokenhearted, our merciful king reveals his love to us in our daily lives, especially when we bring our troubles to him in prayer.

       As we gather around the table of the Lord at this Eucharist, may we become the Communion we receive, abiding together in harmony through the Father’s mercy and our acts of forgiveness.