During Lent, and indeed at all times, we speak often about repentance and even more about forgiveness. In Christ Jesus, God reconciled us to Himself and entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation with one another. In today’s Gospel reading (Matthew 18:21-35), Peter asks Jesus how many times he must forgive, and Jesus’ response becomes a clear and powerful call to practice forgiveness without measure. While that call can sometimes feel difficult to live out, it is also a grace-filled path that invites us to embrace mercy as a constant way of life.
The message, brothers and sisters, is that although forgiveness concerns everyone, it is also a gift we owe to ourselves. What does this mean? Forgiveness frees the heart and mind from bitter impulses such as retaliation and restores interior peace. When we forgive, we step out of the defensive posture of anger and entrust justice to God, even when the person who hurt us has not yet apologized. Therefore, do not count the number of times you have been wounded; rather, rejoice in the number of times you have chosen to forgive those who wounded you. That’s our lesson for today!
