In today’s Gospel, Peter asks Jesus if he has to forgive those who offend him as many as seven times. Jesus response, if you understand the significance of numbers to the Jews, is always. There is no limit to the times I have to forgive someone who offends me. Forgiveness has no limits.
When it comes to God’s forgiveness, that’s really good news. We are all in debt to God, since he created us. He owes us nothing and we owe him everything. Yet he is so loving he cancels and forgets about our debt. He pardons our entire debt over and over again. When we turn to him in forgiveness, he gives us more than we could ever ask for.
During this time of Lent, let us recognize how many times he has forgiven the great debt that I owe. Let us thank him for the many times he has given me a second chance, or a third, or a fourth chance. Also let us pray that he will give the grace to show that same mercy to those who offend me over and over again !
DeColores, Deacon Doug
