Then Peter approaching asked Jesus, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered him, “ I say to you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."
Matthew 18:21-22
In the sitcom, "Family Matters", the Winslow family dealt with various misadventures, many of them caused by their pesky next-door neighbor, Steve Urkel. After the weekly catastrophe had stopped and the dust settled, Steve Urkel would utter his famous line: "Did I do that?" As in each episode the confrontation was resolved, Steve was forgiven again, and everyone was happy. Don't we wish life was that easy and everything was resolved in thirty minutes. Peter had an idea that faith, and in particular forgiveness, might be about counting and calculating, but Jesus thinks otherwise. It is easy to be led to give attention to numbers, and to measure the wrong things on the wrong scales. Jesus emphasizes to Peter that forgiveness has to be unlimited, no matter how many times your brother does you wrong. Forgiveness requires us to go beyond our own hurt and bitterness, to accept the forgiveness of someone else.
Am I humble enough to accept with an open heart those ask for my forgiveness? Am I still holding a grudge on someone who has asked for forgiveness, and I have not yet fully forgiven?
Lord, open my heart so that I may fully forgive those who have hurt me, as you forgave that day on the cross.
Today’s Reflection is by:
Deacon Ed Anctil
Did you know...
Deacon Ed was ordained to the permanent diaconate by Bishop Lynch on June 28, 1997, and is currently serving at Mary Help of Christians Parish. He is the Diocesan Assistant Chaplain to Catholic Scouting. He is a retired Hillsborough County deputy sheriff, after serving 29 years. He is married to his wife, Lorraine, for over 40 years and has two sons, 5 grandchildren, and one new great granddaughter.
