Guiding Us in The Ways of
FORGIVENESS AND CHARITY
FORGIVENESS AND CHARITY
It is impossible to imagine how love could survive and
thrive without our being willing to reach out and to say, "I am
sorry," when we have wronged another and for the person being wronged to
accept the apology and forgive the offender.
How many of us read
book after book or attend lectures, retreats, and workshops with the thought
that this author, this story, or this technique will finally provide the
spiritual breakthrough one seeks? This time, we hope, we will finally "get
it." Even though I am the director of a retreat center and I realize how
important it is to take the time to pause from our ordinary routine, it can be
difficult to do so. No program or series of steps, though, can give us the deep
faith we desire. We may draw inspiration from the experiences and insights of
others, but ultimately if it is to be our faith - one that is living, changing,
growing, deepening and bring new horizons - then it must come from within.
Jesus knew that!
In today's Gospel
Jesus tells His disciples something that must come from within, "If your
brother or sister wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven
times saying, 'I am sorry,' you should forgive him or her." Those three
little words, "I am sorry," are just as significant and essential in
a relationship as those other three little words, "I love you." It is
impossible to imagine how love could survive and thrive without our being
willing to reach out and to say, "I am sorry," when we have wronged
another and for the person being wronged to accept the apology and forgive the
offender.
Jesus Christ adds a
most important reason for us to always say, "I am sorry," and for the
offended one to accept the apology: "If you forgive others their
transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you." As we read in
today's Responsorial Psalm, We "shall receive a blessing from the Lord, a
reward from God [our] Savior. Such is the race that seeks for Him" (Ps
24:5-6a).
It must come from
within!