Forgiveness

Then came Peter unto him and said: Lord, how often shall my brother offend against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith to him: I say not to thee, till seven times; but till seventy times seven times. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a king, who would take an account of his servants. And when he had begun to take the account, one was brought to him, that owed him ten thousand talents. And as he had not wherewith to pay it, his lord commanded that he should be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. But that servant falling down, besought him, saying: have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And the lord of that servant being moved with pity, let him go and forgave him the debt. But when that servant was gone out, he found one of his fellow servants that owed him an hundred pence: and laying hold of him, throttled him, saying: pay what thou owest. And his fellow servant falling down, besought him, saying: Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he paid the debt. Now his fellow servants seeing what was done, were very much grieved, and they came and told their lord all that was done. Then his lord called him; and said to him: thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all the debt, because thou besoughtest me: shouldst not thou then have had compassion also on thy fellow servant, even as I had compassion on thee? And his lord being angry, delivered him to the torturers until he paid all the debt. So also shall my heavenly Father do to you, if you forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.
Matthew 18:21-35 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father we don't always do as we are supposed to do. Many don't even know your Word but some know instantly to forgive from the heart. Jesus has given us the way to freedom. It's up to us to want to be free of the burden of sin. How often in our own lives we get angry or upset when we are cut off by another car while driving? All too often we see road rage, or we come across angry people fighting over some small matter. And the same for what Jesus spoke about, when we are forgiven, do we extend that forgiveness or do we hold back and put another into bondage out of our selfishness. Jesus gave us so very much to live by and we don't even bother to follow it. Maybe today when we are out and about, we might come across someone who hurts and lashes out without thinking. Forgive them. Didn't Jesus say these words on the very cross he was on. Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. And those words are honest because we don't know what we do to you everyday we choose to not forgive.