3rd Week of Lent - Tuesday - Forgive from the heart

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.