Matthew 18:21-19:1
‘How often must I forgive my brother?’
In today’s reading, Jesus explains how we are to forgive, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times. By this, he means an unlimited number of times, just as God never tires of forgiving us. Forgiveness is not always easy, but it is absolutely necessary for our healing. When Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, he said ‘forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us’. In the measure we extend forgiveness, we too will be forgiven. Do we find it difficult to forgive someone? Do we keep a score of others faults or hold grudges? Are we also able to forgive ourselves and be patient with ourselves?
Today, let us remember God’s boundless mercy and seek forgiveness for our own failings. Let us pray for those who have hurt us and that God may give us the grace to forgive them and ourselves from our heart.
“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” (Mt 4:23)
Jesus was teaching and preaching the good news of the kingdom, constantly moving/active/purposeful. Jesus not only proclaimed and explained the kingdom; he demonstrated God’s authority by healing the sick and expelling demons (v24). That he healed every diseases may mean every kind of sickness rather than every sick person. Are we prayerful to the point in believing miracles?
Jesus begins where the people are: Where possible, Jesus worked through existing institutions. He taught in the synagogues, the educational and community centres of the day. For us, these may include our children’s school and playground, our parish, Verbum Dei, catechism classes (eg, home group meetings), & social justice organisations, even more so is our family home.
Jesus ministers to His listeners both physically and spiritually (4:23-24)
Many conservative Christians focus personal conversion but wrongly ignore the desperate physical needs around them (both for miracles and for social assistance/intervention). Many other churches focus heavily on societal injustices but neglect spiritual needs and personal human pain. Jesus cared about people in their totality/of their whole humanity and was concerned for their pressing needs, whatever that was. His example draws us to a more well-rounded service that preaches the gospel through evangelism and shows the gospel through ministries of compassion, justice and Spirit-empowered healing.
Our Holy Triune God,
Listen to our deepest hearts desire to lead our lives, truly Christlife as
●Holiness and purity
●Scriptural fidelity and evangelism
●Prayer and contemplation
●Integrating spirituality with daily living
●Social justice and cultural transformation
●Spiritual empowerment and gifting.
May we devote work, business, family and community ministry to glorifying God.
Mother Mary & all the Saints, pray for us. Amen.