REFLECTION FOR THURSDAY 19th Week, Ordinary Time.
By
Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore
TODAY'S WORD
MATHEW 18:21-22
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?"
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
TODAY'S REFLECTION
If we know what is good for us, then certainly we would want to search for it and we would want to have it.
After all, the human longing is for what is good, true, beautiful and loving.
But what is good for us is often right before us but we fail to see it.
We all know that forgiveness is a beautiful thing and it is really good for us.
Without forgiveness, life would be an ugly cycle of resentment and retaliation.
When Peter asked Jesus how often must he forgive his brother if he wrongs him, Peter was expecting that seven times would be more than enough.
But Jesus told him that it is not just seven, but seventy-seven times!
Not just Peter is surprised, but we would be surprised too. How can we keep forgiving someone who is unrepentant?
But to forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that prisoner is you.
Indeed forgiveness has the power to free us from that ugly cycle of resentment and retaliation.
Forgiveness does not change the past, but it will enlarge the future for us.
We all want a future that is good, beautiful and loving, not just for ourselves but for others as well.
But what is needed for that future is forgiveness.
Resolution
Let's resolve to be strong so that we would want to forgive and walk towards that beautiful future.
GOD BLESS YOU
Good morning. Have a nice safe day