Prayer Prompt before reading MT 18:21-35 Come, Holy Spirit, teach me how to pray well, interpret the Scriptures for me so that I may know the Truth about who God the Father is and God the Son so that I may know who I am.
“LORD, IF MY BROTHER SINS AGAINST ME, HOW OFTEN MUST I FORGIVE HIM?” MT 18:21-35
Humbly submit your will to God (Thy Will be done) and consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Mary and Joseph.
Forgiveness is hard. So hard, that some people never do it or it takes years to forgive someone. As I continue to try and fight sin, I realize God’s love and mercy for us is beyond understanding. God continues to forgive us, if we are sorry from our heart, which means we will leave confession with the intent to stop the sin in our life (reconciliation). How often I use God as a slot machine or God will forgive me so I am still going to sin. Either way, God doesn’t care. He just loves and forgives and wants you to come back time and time again! This is what love does and God is love straight through. Love is
Pope Francis said, “God never tires of forgiving, we tire of asking for forgiveness”. We need God’s grace. Jesus is waiting, thirsting for our souls to be reconciled. This was His mission and purpose. If we don’t bring ourselves to Him, the power of the Cross is lost. He is waiting with an ocean of mercy. God’s mercy is bigger than sin. We must never tire of fighting sin and asking for God’s mercy when we fall. Jesus died for us to reconcile us with the Father. This is a long and difficult process which involves fasting, prayer, coming to know God in the Scriptures, desiring holiness and developing a relationship with Him.
Most importantly, we must ask Mary to intercede for us and protect us from evil. We can ask her to wrap us in her mantle every day all day. We can ask St. Joseph to wrap us in his cloak and protect us, too. I am still going back to confession for some of the same sins I have had since I was younger. Other sins, with God’s grace in the Eucharist and Reconciliation, I have overcome. Forgiveness is hard. God’s mercy is generous and can never be outmatched.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us if we want this mercy, we too must forgive. Ouch! My pride usually wins when it comes to forgiving or asking for forgiveness. Our homes, schools, and communities would be much better if we forgave more. Forgiveness is hard and we usually need to forgive those closest to us. Fr. Jacques Philippe teaches that we are chained to the person we need to forgive or ask for forgiveness from. The hardest things in life often have the greatest rewards. Today, Jesus reminds us forgiveness is essential to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Today’s challenge: Ask Jesus for the words to say when preparing yourself to forgive or ask for forgiveness. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Don’t plan on it going well sometimes. Often times a person is very upset and hurt. Ask God for His grace to continue open communication and be prepared to say I’m sorry many times. Forgive and ask for forgiveness to prepare your soul for the Kingdom of Heaven. Forgiveness is for-giving! Give it often! Pope Francis, “Say Please, Thank You, and I’m Sorry everyday”. Fr. Kapaun said, “If we fail to forgive, we reject our own faith!” Fr. Kapaun, pray for us!
Be a servant, become a saint!
#Christian YODO (You Only Die Once; we will live again!)
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