Today the Word of God speaks to us about something very beautiful, very difficult, and very necessary: forgiveness.

Sirach says, “Resentment and anger, these are foul things.” Why? Because resentment poisons the heart. It is like carrying a bag of stones everywhere we go. We take it to work, to Mass, to bed, to family gatherings, even on holiday. And after a while we wonder why we are tired! Sometimes we are not exhausted by life itself, but by the bitterness we have chosen to carry.

In the Gospel, Peter asks Jesus, “Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?” Peter probably thought he was being generous. Seven times sounds quite impressive. Most of us feel heroic if we forgive someone twice, especially if they have annoyed us in the parish car park! But Jesus says, “Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.” In other words, do not keep score.

Then Jesus tells the parable of the servant who owed an impossible debt. He could never repay it. Yet the king cancels everything. That is us before God. We stand before the Lord with a debt of sin, weakness, failure and selfishness that we could never repay by our own strength. And God, in His mercy, says: “I forgive you. Begin again.” God is not reluctant to forgive us. He is not standing in heaven with folded arms, waiting to catch us out. He is the Father of mercy. He wants to forgive. He delights in mercy.

But Jesus is very clear: the mercy we receive must become the mercy we share. The forgiven servant refuses to forgive someone who owes him a tiny amount. That is the warning. We cannot come before God asking for oceans of mercy, and then hand others a teaspoon of mercy. We cannot ask God to open His Heart to us, while we keep our hearts locked against another person.

This does not mean forgiveness is easy. It does not mean pretending the hurt did not happen. It does not mean saying that injustice does not matter. Forgiveness is not the same as excusing, forgetting, or allowing someone to keep harming us. Sometimes boundaries are needed. Sometimes justice is needed. But forgiveness means I refuse to let hatred rule my heart. I refuse to let the wound become my identity. I place the person who hurt me into the hands of God.

We have seen powerful examples of this. Pope St John Paul II, after being shot in St Peter’s Square, went to prison to meet the man who tried to kill him and forgave him. Brandt Jean, whose brother Botham was killed in Dallas, publicly forgave the woman responsible and embraced her in court. Immaculée Ilibagiza, who survived the Rwandan genocide and lost much of her family, found the grace to forgive those who had done terrible evil. None of these examples make pain small. They show that God’s grace can be greater than pain.

So today we must ask honestly: is there someone I have not forgiven? A family member? A former friend? A neighbour? Someone in the parish? Someone who disappointed, betrayed, ignored, criticised or wounded me?

If the answer is yes, do not begin by looking at that person. Begin by looking at Jesus Crucified. Look at Him on the Cross: innocent, rejected, mocked, bleeding. And from the Cross He prays, “Father, forgive them.” That is where forgiveness begins. The power to forgive does not come from our own emotions. It comes from God. We may have to pray many times: “Lord, I cannot forgive by myself. Give me Your mercy. Forgive in me.”

Why carry resentment, anger and bitterness when Christ offers joy and freedom? Why remain chained to the past when Jesus wants to set us free? Today, let us bring our wounded hearts to the altar. Let us receive mercy. And then, with God’s grace, let us share mercy - forgiving from the heart.

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This Sunday focuses on the theme of forgiveness.

The first reading of today from Ecclesiasticus focuses on forgiveness. It reminds us that we must forgive others for our prayers to be answered. Our ability to forgive has a significant influence on others as well as on ourselves.

In the gospel from St Matthew, Christ takes forgiveness to a different and practical level. Christ’s response reminds us that Christian forgiveness does not have limits. We must forgive all, always and forever, as the prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi says: “Wherever there is injury (offense or hurt), forgiveness.” Forgiveness is the life blood of any Christian community. Real forgiveness cements a relationship leaving it stronger than it was before.

Some practical thoughts for the week

·      The parable expands and stresses the petition in the Lord’s Prayer “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others”. Perhaps during this week when we pray the Lord’s Prayer we might reflect particularly on this petition

·      Looking at our own need of forgiveness as well as those of those who have offended us

·      Reflection the words of absolution: “God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his son has reconciled the world to himself and poured out the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the church may God grant you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”

Prayers of the faithful

For those who have been deeply hurt or betrayed, that they may find the strength to forgive and the grace to heal, let us pray to the Lord.

For our parish community, that we may be a haven of understanding and forgiveness for all who seek God’s mercy, let us pray to the Lord.

For those who struggle to forgive themselves, that they may experience the freedom and peace that comes from God’s merciful love, let us pray to the Lord.

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Hymns are from the Laudate hymnbook:

803 Love is his word

810 There's a wideness in God's mercy

840 God of mercy and compassion

820 Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven

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