24th SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

I do not tell you to forgive seven times, but seventy seven times

Jesus tells a dramatic story in the Gospel, to make a very important point: the desperate need in our world for forgiveness and reconciliation. How many chances do we give each other? As many as seven? How often do we shut doors on people, even family and friends, saying “That’s it; you’ve just gone too far this time: never again? When Jesus says that we must forgive ‘seventy-seven’ times, he implies that we never stop forgiving, whatever happens. He doesn’t just say this, however: even when they do the worst thing that could be done to him, nailing him to a cross, Jesus puts these words into practice: “Father, forgive them…” As his disciples, we must do likewise.

24th WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME 2017 Newsletter