Forgiveness is not an easy thing to do. When we get hurt, we usually want to even the score and hurt others the way they have hurt us. This is probably why Peter asked Jesus in the gospel how many times God wants them to forrgive. Syempre, pag paulit ulit, nakakainis. We want to set a limit. During that time, seven was a very generous number. When one reaches that limit, he wants to be assured that it’s okay not to forgive anymore. He wants affirmation from God that he has done his part already - similar to the affirmation wanted by the man who asked Jesus how to get eternal life. But Jesus told Peter that they should forgive not seven, but seventy-seven times. In essence, God wants us to always forgive. He then illustrated it by a story, telling and reminding us that we should forgive others just as God the Father forgives us for all the sins we commit.
God wants us to pay his goodness forward.
Just as God forgives us all the time for all the sins against him, so should we forgive others whose sins to us are very small compared to our sins against God. This is applicable not only for forgiveness, but for all God has given us. God’s love, blessings and goodness we experience in our lives should not stop on us. They should be shared to others. We should be generous and extend these to others, especially the least, the last, and the lost.
The only way to multiply God’s love is to share them with others.
God will be more real and more alive in this world if we do our part. If we share our blessings, if we geniunely forgive others, and if we allow God to love through us, then in our own little way, we can be Jesus to others in this world. This is the best way to pass on God to others. This is the best way to repay him for everything.
I guess this is a perfect reminder for us, especially during this pandemic. We may have our worries. We may have our fears. We may be frustrated. But God does not cease to take care of us. He provides for us. He gives us blessings. Thus, we should pass it on too. We should share our blessings to others. We should share our time to others. Wr should share our love to others. This way, we can spread God and make him more alive in these trying times.
Do I realize God’s blessings in my life? Do I realize my sins and his ready forgiveness every time I ask for it? How do I share God to others? How do I pay his blessings and his love to others? What is he challenging me to do today?
Do I realize God’s blessings in my life? Do I realize my sins and his ready forgiveness every time I ask for it? How do I share God to others? How do I pay his blessings and his love to others? What is he challenging me to do today?
May we allow God to love and forgive us, and may it move us to allow God to love and forgive others through us.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for loving me and forgiving me. Thank you for all the blessings. Sorry for the times I am not willing to be used by you. Sorry for the times I do not let you love me and fill me. Sorry for being selfish and loving myself more than others. Lord, help me have a generous heart. May I be an instrument of your love and forgiveness on earth as I experience them. Help me be a willing vessel and make you more alive in this world through my life. Amen.
Blessed day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflections:
August 13, 2020
Thursday of Week 19; St. Pontian and St. Hippolytus
FIRST READING
The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, you live in the midst of a rebellious house; they have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house. Now, son of man, during the day while they are looking on, prepare your baggage as though for exile, and again while they are looking on, migrate from where you live to another place; perhaps they will see that they are a rebellious house. You shall bring out your baggage like an exile in the daytime while they are looking on; in the evening, again while they are looking on, you shall go out like one of those driven into exile; while they look on, dig a hole in the wall and pass through it; while they look on, shoulder the burden and set out in the darkness; cover your face that you may not see the land, for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel.
I did as I was told. During the day I brought out my baggage as though it were that of an exile, and at evening I dug a hole through the wall with my hand and, while they looked on, set out in the darkness, shouldering my burden.
Then, in the morning, the word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, did not the house of Israel, that rebellious house, ask you what you were doing? Tell them: Thus says the Lord GOD: This oracle concerns Jerusalem and the whole house of Israel within it. I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them; as captives they shall go into exile. The prince who is among them shall shoulder his burden and set out in darkness, going through a hole he has dug out in the wall, and covering his face lest he be seen by anyone.
I did as I was told. During the day I brought out my baggage as though it were that of an exile, and at evening I dug a hole through the wall with my hand and, while they looked on, set out in the darkness, shouldering my burden.
Then, in the morning, the word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, did not the house of Israel, that rebellious house, ask you what you were doing? Tell them: Thus says the Lord GOD: This oracle concerns Jerusalem and the whole house of Israel within it. I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them; as captives they shall go into exile. The prince who is among them shall shoulder his burden and set out in darkness, going through a hole he has dug out in the wall, and covering his face lest he be seen by anyone.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. (see 7b) Do not forget the works of the Lord!
They tempted and rebelled against God the Most High, and kept not his decrees. They turned back and were faithless like their fathers; they recoiled like a treacherous bow.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
They angered him with their high places and with their idols roused his jealousy. God heard and was enraged and utterly rejected Israel.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
And he surrendered his strength into captivity, his glory in the hands of the foe. He abandoned his people to the sword and was enraged against his inheritance.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
They tempted and rebelled against God the Most High, and kept not his decrees. They turned back and were faithless like their fathers; they recoiled like a treacherous bow.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
They angered him with their high places and with their idols roused his jealousy. God heard and was enraged and utterly rejected Israel.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
And he surrendered his strength into captivity, his glory in the hands of the foe. He abandoned his people to the sword and was enraged against his inheritance.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!
ALLELUIA
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let your countenance shine upon your servant and teach me your statutes.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let your countenance shine upon your servant and teach me your statutes.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”
When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.
When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.
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