24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 18:21-35
And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.’

Reflection
Matthew 18:21-35
POINTS TO PONDER

Readiness to forgive is taught by many of the great philosophies and religions of the world. Why? Because you can’t be happy, or have any sort of inner peace, far less inner joy, if you refuse to forgive. Dwelling on past hurts, nurturing resentment, indulging simmering anger: these things can blight or embitter a person’s whole life. Unfortunately though, as all of us know: sometimes forgiveness can seem very difficult indeed, even impossible. Perhaps this is so nowadays more than ever, because contemporary secular culture encourages us to think of ourselves as victims, who have a right to demand compensation and redress.

What though if we find it too hard? What if my brother really hurts or upsets me, and ever continues to do so? What if I have been so deeply wounded by someone that my life is effectively ruined? In that case, let us simply admit the impossibility of our task, and turn to God for help. O God come to my aid, we cry. ‘Lord, help me to let go of this. If I can’t forgive, then do you forgive in my place. Bless us both, Lord, so that each of us is able to receive the gift of your forgiveness.’

We pray, we go to confession, and we come to Mass. Here the love and mercy of Jesus that flows from his sacrificial death are made present, and received in sacramental form. Here supremely we find the grace and strength we need, in order to let go of the debt we are owed: we, who have been redeemed from our own incomparably greater debt, through the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.

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