“Be Quick To Forgive”

There’s been a lot of words on forgiveness lately. Today’s gospel covers the call to forgive 7×77. Jesus then includes the parable about the man who is forgiven much who then refuses forgiveness to another. The Lord comes down hard on those who refuses to forgive, especially after having been forgiven much. (Mt. 18:21-35) 

I find that some injuries are relatively easy to forgive, especially if the effects of the injury have been healed and are no longer affecting me. It becomes more difficult when the effects of the injury remain for a longer time and maybe never go completely away. Recently I recalled a wrongdoing against me of many years ago that occasionally pops into my memory and causes me some angst and unease. While I forgave the person many years ago and I rarely think of it, sometimes it raises its ugly head and I need to reaffirm my forgiveness and say a prayer for the person. While this was a relatively minor hurt, others have experienced major hurts and injury with large effects that are still present. Yet, we are all called to forgive. 

This is serious business. We don’t have an option to hold back forgiveness. God makes this very clear. “ Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Should a man nourish anger against his fellows and expect healing from the Lord? Should a man refuse mercy to his fellows, yet seek pardon for his own sins? If he who is but flesh cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins? (Sirach 28:2-5) The Lord’s Prayer makes our forgiveness conditional on forgiving others….” forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” (Mt. 6:12)

I find my “willingness to pray for someone who has offended me” a good barometer as to the depth of my forgiveness for that person. Even if it’s difficult, let’s ask for the grace to forgive and pray for those who have offended us. It’s not easy, but it’s important; it’s important for them and for us. 

The  Intercessions from today’s Magnificat were not easy for me to pray, but I believe I should pray them. They read:

• Give peace to those who have destroyed our peace;
• Grant love to those who have refused us love;
• Protect from injury those who have done us injury; 
• Grant success to those who have competed with us to our loss;
• Give prosperity to those who have taken what was ours.

– we pray, Lord have mercy.

Lord help us to recall the incredible mercy and forgiveness you have poured upon each of us. May gratitude for your mercy bring us to tears, and may this gratitude help us to be quick to forgive and to pray for those who have hurt us. As we do this may we experience more and more of your gracious love. And this will be very good news.