St. Jane Frances De Chantel Church, Easton recently issued the following announcement. 

My Dear Parishioners, 

Perhaps you remember this news item: On October 2, 2006, Charles C. Roberts walked into an Amish schoolhouse in Lancaster County. There were 26 students in the schoolhouse. Armed with three guns, he allowed 15 boys, a pregnant female student, and three adult females with infant children to leave safely, but held the remaining 15 girls captive, tying their feet together. 

His justification for his actions was that he intended to exact revenge for something that had happened in his past. Notes that he left behind suggested anger toward himself and God for the death of his newborn daughter almost nine years earlier. The police were alerted and soon arrived on the scene. Not long after they arrived, Roberts started shooting, killing three children and himself. Two more children died later from their injuries. 

In the face of such tragedy, one can only imagine the hurt and anger that the loved ones of the victims might feel. In an extraordinary demonstration of forgiveness, members of the Amish Christian community, including family members of the deceased victims, attended Robert’s funeral and comforted his widow. The Amish community did not stop there: they also offered financial support to Robert’s widow. 

In today’s Gospel passage we are confronted with Jesus’ teaching regarding forgiveness. In effect he tells us that we MUST be willing to forgive without limit – “not seven times but seventy-seven times.” He then goes on to tell the parable of the unforgiving servant. That parable is a sharp reminder that all of us stand in need of forgiveness, and all have in fact been forgiven by God many times over. Indeed, sometimes it is very difficult to forgive, especially when we are hurt or offended unjustly! 

But Our Lord reminds us that in every situation, forgiveness is the only policy that makes sense, and it is the only course of action that we, as followers of Jesus, are able to take. May the Lord give us the grace to offer forgiveness, even in those situations where it seems to make no sense!  

Sincerely yours, 

Monsignor Radocha

Original source can be found here.