Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings

Reflection on Scripture

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells Peter he must forgive his brother seventy seven times. Translated, this means to forgive as often as necessary. Forgiveness is more than saying I am sorry or telling another we forgive them. Forgiveness from the heart must be rooted in love so, when we forgive, we also pray for the salvation of the person who offended us.

In the sacrament of reconciliation, we can confess the times we offended someone and did not try to reconcile with them, or the times we were offended and did not forgive. The sin is forgiven in the sacrament but we need go further and seek healing.

The presence of hate generates anger or even rage, an extreme form of anger when we lose control of our actions, and we need healing from the times we transgressed. If healing does not occur, then the feelings will present themselves in our mind and will generate negative feelings when similar situations occur.

The desire to get even or seek revenge can be a occasion of sin and lead into sin. The cure or the healing is to forgive as God forgives. God’s cure is love the person and forget the transgression.

St. Bernadette of Lourdes was called before the local bishop for an interview on the apparitions of the Lady. At the end of the interview, the bishop asked Bernadette to ask the Lady, what sins did he confess in his last confession. Bernadette obeyed and asked the Lady. The Lady, the Blessed Mother, responded that God does not remember.

We need to forget the transgressions against us, put our pride aside and accept the offense in silence, as Jesus did during the passion. Then we need to pray for the person with the faith and the hope that our prayer will help them on the road to salvation. Remove the stumbling blocks in our path. Forgive and forget and love.

Deacon Phil