24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sirach 27:30-28:7; Romans 14: 7-9; Matthew 18: 21-35
The theme of today’s readings is forgiveness. We are all here in this world in order that we learn to love as Jesus did. That love is dictated by how Jesus lived. If we do not forgive, we will never learn how to love.
We are called to follow Jesus and so our forgiveness is not based on our feelings. The path we must follow is His path as we echo Jesus’ words, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
We all know that forgiving is not easy and maybe difficult depending on the person and events involved, but it is the only way forward. As long as we do not forgive, we are not free. Forgiveness is freedom. Forgiveness also does not mean blotting out painful memories, but it means not acting out of them. God revealed Himself in Jesus and revealed His closeness to us and God’s desire to always forgive us.
F orgiveness must come from the heart.
O ur forgiveness is needed by others.
R esponsibility is needed by us to model mercy.
G od has forgiven us.
I mpetuousness was a part of Peter’s personality.
V ery generous is God’s forgiveness to us.
E ach of us cannot hoard forgiveness: we must pass it on.
N one of us lives for oneself-we belong to God.
E ach of us cannot hoard forgiveness; we must pass it on.
S how God’s mercy to others in order to receive it ourselves.
S ins of humanity brought about the death of God’s son.
Let us pray the Lord’s Prayer, the perfect prayer asking for forgiveness.
Sr. Barbara Werner, OP