August 14th: Looking for loopholes
August 12, 2020
Archbishop Gordon: “You only have one home, and that is here”
August 13, 2020
Jesus makes it clear that there is no limit to giving and receiving forgiveness.
Matthew 18:21-19:1
Does mercy overlook justice? Justice demands that everyone be given their due. So when is it right to show mercy and pardon to those who have acted unjustly or wrongly? The prophet Amos speaks of God forgiving transgression three times, but warns that God may not revoke punishment for the fourth (see Amos 1:3-13; 2:1-6).
When Peter posed the question of forgiveness, he characteristically offered an answer he thought Jesus would be pleased with. Why not forgive seven times! How unthinkable for Jesus to counter with the proposition that one must forgive seventy times that.
No offense our neighbour can do to us can compare with our own personal debt to God for offending him! If God has shown mercy to us in granting us pardon for our sins, then we, in turn, must show mercy and forgiveness towards every person who has offended us.
Lord Jesus, you have been kind and forgiving towards me. May I be merciful as you are merciful. Free me from all bitterness and resentment that I may truly forgive from the heart those who have caused me injury or grief. (c) Don Schwager.
