"Lord, if my brother sins against me, how many times must I forgive?"
Matthew 18:21
How many times must I forgive him... or her... or them? Those who study the scriptures tell us that the number seven is used to signify perfection. So perhaps Peter was being quite generous when he suggests a willingness to forgive "as many as seven times". We can almost see him a bit puffed up at his own benevolence. "Seven times!" Jesus must have stunned Peter with his reply: "No, Peter, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." Perfection times eleven! Jesus seems to be saying, "Stop counting! Just forgive." To help us to follow that command to forgive, we might be helped by this question: "How many times have you forgiven me, Lord?" If I have been forgiven, as the servant in Jesus' parable, can I not extend that kindness and mercy to another? That is possible only with the grace of God. The mental energy that goes into keeping track of how many times I have forgiven can be better spent asking God to give me a measure of that divine mercy and kindness that does not keep tally.
Can I stop counting offenses, others or my own, and focus on the tender mercy of our God?
God of mercy and compassion, give me a portion of your mercy and your compassion that I might forgive others and myself.
Today's Reflection is by:
Sister Cathy Cahill, OSF
Did you know...
Sister Cathy Cahill, OSF, is a Franciscan Sister of Allegany who has been ministering in the diocese since 1989, primarily in retreat work and spiritual direction, She is a member of the community at St. Clare Convent in Tampa.
