Forgive Us Our Sins as We Forgive...

Homily for Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

We have probably all had thoughts like these: “she always does that…” Or, “he never remembers to take care of that…” Those “always” and “never” generalizations are cognitive distortions – fallacies, if you will – and are damaging to our relationships, especially with those who are closest to us. They creep into our minds when we are frustrated and make a small transgression or offense into something that seems unfailing, perpetual, and constant. It can make it difficult to forgive one another.

What are we to do? Perhaps the best way to look at this is from God’s perspective! God clearly sees all of our weaknesses, all of our failings, all the times we fall short. Yet God is filled with compassion, endlessly generous, and unfailing in forgiveness for us. This is the bar that is set for us; it is the standard of discipleship in following the commandments we have been given to love as Jesus loves; to forgive others; remembering the injunction that we pray in the Lord’s prayer.

Make no mistake about it, Peter understood this ideal that has been set before him; but he tries to press the issue and asks the Lord in today’s Gospel text, “How many times do I have to forgive someone who sins against me?” Jesus answers unequivocally. As the father always forgives us, so we should endeavor to forgive others. At the heart of the teaching about forgiveness is the recognition that God is compassionate and abounding in generosity when it comes to mercy and forgiveness. If we need any proof of this, all we need do is look at the Eucharist – the sacrament in which all of our sins are forgiven when we receive Jesus worthily. No one is saying that it is easy! However, it is the way of God and an ideal toward which we must all strive.