The above Scripture passage from today's Gospel reading is blunt and clear. "The measure with which you measure will be used to measure you" (Mt 7:2). Our eternal forgiveness and salvation depend upon whether or not we have forgiven those who have wronged us. Yet we are only human, and our sinful nature inherited from original sin makes forgiveness impossible from a human standpoint. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing, particularly when choosing to forgive (Jn 15:5). Therefore, we must constantly beg the Lord for the grace to forgive "seventy times seven times" those who have harmed us (Mt 18:22).
So let us:
1)gaze on the crucified Jesus, Who says: "Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing" (Lk 23:34),
2) pray the Our Father daily, asking the Father to "forgive us the wrong we have done as we forgive those who wrong us" (Mt 6:12),
3) attend Mass as often as possible, even daily, for there we hear that Jesus forgave even on the night He was betrayed,
4) immerse ourselves in the Word of God, which speaks constantly of forgiveness and always achieves God's will (see Is 55:10-11), and
5) make a Lenten Confession and be immersed in forgiveness.
| PRAYER: | Father, this Lent give me the grace to forgive from the heart all who have hurt me. |
| PROMISE: | "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit He saves." –Ps 34:19 |
| PRAISE: | When St. John's hospital burned, he carried out all the patients through the flames, but no one was burned (see Is 43:2). |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College