Thursday 13th of Aug
“’How often must I forgive my brother?’
Matthew 18:21-19:1
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? Do we keep count of the times we’ve extended forgiveness to another? Are we able to forgive ourselves for our own failings too?
Today, let us remember God’s boundless mercy and ask for his forgiveness. Let us pray for those who have hurt us and that God may give us the grace to extend this same mercy and forgive from the heart.