One of the great Lenten themes is that of forgiveness. On Good Friday, we will hear Jesus plead from
the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” All that Jesus suffered, all that he endured,
the tortures, the mockery, the humiliation—he endured that our sins may be
forgiven. Yet, Jesus was willing to die
for the forgiveness of sins because of his great love for us. Jesus came to earth for this purpose.
When GK Chesterton was asked why he became Catholic, his
simple answer was “to get my sins forgiven”.
The reception of God’s mercy is not automatic. We must want it, desire it, seek it, and do
what it takes to receive it. The soul
stained by original sin must receive baptism.
The baptized soul stained by mortal sin must receive the sacrament of
reconciliation.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls wicked, the servant who
refused to forgive. For, the healing of
the wounds of sin and division involves our own openness to forgive
others.
It is difficult enough to forgive those who have offended us
even once with a small offensive remark or an unfriendly look. I think Peter is pretty generous when he says
that we should forgive even seven times.
But the Lord corrects Peter, forgive not seven times, but without limit.
A Christian must never say, “I will never forgive you.” For if we are closed to forgiving others, we
become closed to receiving the forgiveness which leads to heaven. Jesus describes refusal to forgive as
wickedness.
Forgiveness is not easy.
It might feel like, say, being crucified. If upon examining our hearts we detect any
resentment or bitterness, we need to bring those feelings to the foot of the
cross and let them go. And if they rear
their ugly heads again in the future, to repeat the process over and over. If you are keeping a list against anyone of
times they’ve offended me, rip up the list and consider the slate wiped clean.
So as we meditate this Lent upon the Lord’s forgiveness of
our sinfulness, we also recall our own need to forgive without limit. Forgive completely, forgive regardless the
cost, forgive from your heart, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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