Forgiveness

21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21–22

Jesus' response to Peter highlights the importance of forgiveness in our lives. We are called to forgive others not just seven times but seventy times seven times. In other words, we are to forgive without limit.

Forgiveness is not always easy, but it is essential for our spiritual growth and well-being. Holding on to anger, bitterness, and resentment only hurts us in the long run, while forgiving sets us free from the burden of pain and hurt. We can learn from Jesus' example of forgiveness on the cross. Even as He was being crucified, Jesus prayed for His persecutors, saying,

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34b

Jesus forgave by giving up his life, even when they didn't deserve it.

Dear Church, God calls us to forgive our debtors. We pay the price of forgiveness as we show the love and mercy of Christ to those around us through forgiveness. Let us remember that forgiveness is not necessarily a one-time event but a process that may need to be repeated. It may not always be easy, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can forgive others as Christ has forgiven us.

During this Lenten season, let us focus on how we can practice the spiritual discipline of forgiveness.