How to Forgive
There is no audio/podcast for today’s reading & meditation.
Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Matthew 18:21 – 19:1 - Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”
When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“…how often must I forgive him?...Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. ”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
To forgive is very difficult. And to complicate matters, Our Lord says that the forgiveness we receive from God depends upon the forgiveness we give to others. This teaching may be a cause of great concern for many Christians who have found repeatedly that they struggle to forgive. Some of us, probably all of us, have experienced a moment where we are so hurt, so tired, so angry that we felt we simply couldn’t forgive. Maybe there is some truth in this feeling.
The old poetical statement “forgiveness is divine” quite possibly holds some theological truth. Forgiveness might actually be beyond us. It might simply be too big for us little humans. If so, how can God demand that we humans forgive? The answer is that it is not we who have to muster the power to forgive from our own resources. God has the power to forgive—in fact, He already has forgiven every sin—and God can work this power of forgiveness through us for others. So, what might be impossible for us to accomplish alone becomes a possibility (and an expectation) when we rely on Christ. Let’s not get too discouraged that we are poor forgivers. Instead let’s ask God who is rich in mercy to forgive others through us.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
Like Pier? Share it with others (via links below) / Subscribe to it (below) / Support (the mission)
