St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church issued the following announcement on Sept 13.

Last week we talked about loving one another and remember that sometimes we are the ones that make it difficult for others to love. This week we move forward with the idea that if we love as God loves, then we will be able to forgive as God forgives. Psalm 103 reminds us of the Lord’s kindness, mercy, and compassion. “He will not always find fault; not persist in his anger forever. He does not treat us according to our sins nor repay us according to our faults.” What amazing gift the Lord’s mercy is!

The 1st reading from Sirach tells us to “Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the Lord?” The Gospel also shows Peter asking, “how many times must I forgive?” Jesus replies, “As many as seventy-seven times.” In other words, don’t keep track of how many times, just keep forgiving. The parable Jesus tells his disciples of the unmerciful servant is one that we may relate to more than we realize. After all, how many times has God forgiven us of our sins (some of which are repeat offenses), yet we still hold grudges against others for much smaller offenses? Jesus is telling us that we must forgive others no matter how many times they have wronged us. This does not mean that there is no social consequence for their wrongdoing, just that we need to have the mercy and compassion to forgive them as God forgives us.

This made me think about the line of the Lord’s prayer, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…” How often we pray the Lord’s prayer without really letting it sink in the magnitude of the words we are praying? Let’s challenge ourselves to really consider this every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer. Let it not just be words that we say, but words that we live by!

Let’s open our hearts and pray for each other that we can let go of grudges that truly only hurt us and separate us from God and his mercy. Also, remembering that we are not always the innocent party, pray that we will find the strength to ask for and receive forgiveness from those we have hurt. I leave you with the words from our prelude today, The Master Came to Bring Good News. It embodies the scripture today especially in the 4th verse and refrain: “Forgive us Lord as we forgive and seek to help each other. Forgive us Lord and we shall live to pray and work together. Father forgive us, through Jesus hear us, as we forgive one another!”

-Michelle

September 20 Readings: IS 55:6-9; PS 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18; PHIL1:20C-24, 27A; MT 20:1-16A

Original source can be found here.