Forgiveness is the topic of today’s Gospel. Boy, is that s difficult subject to tackle, one of the most difficult things we are called to do as Christians. A couple of years ago, I was interviewed by the Tupelo Daily Journal for an article on forgiveness by the religion reporter. Several of us in ministry in the Tupelo area were interviewed for the article. Rev. Carson Overstreet, one of the ministers on staff of First Presbyterian Church in Tupelo had this to say: “From a Christian perspective, there are no limits to forgiveness. It’s a gift and a responsibility. Forgiveness isn’t created by us, but given to us by God through Christ.” I certainly agree with her assessment. But I don’t think a lot of us see forgiveness as a gift. I think many of us see it as anything but a gift, something that gnaws at us and challenges us and agonizes us.
Forgiveness is not like turning a light switch off and on – it is more like drops of water that slowing accumulate in a glass. And it might be harder to try to forgive someone who is close to you than to forgive a stranger. Most of the time, forgiveness is not easy, but it is a value of our faith that calls out to us. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is there to help us with forgiveness – to help us forgive others, to forgive ourselves, to seek forgiveness from God. And so many Catholics don’t take that opportunity to go to that Sacrament. May we heed Jesus advice and take those difficult steps to seek forgiveness in our lives.
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