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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus’ prayer lesson continued,

“Forgive us our sins,

as we have forgiven those who sin against us…”

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– Matthew 6:12.

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REFLECTION…

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Crucially, Jesus words make it very clear,

that as we ask the Father to forgive us our sins,

we are also declaring to Him

that we already have forgiven those who sin against us.

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As a Christian, I need to realise what this prayer implies:

if I am unwilling to forgive others,

I cannot expect God to forgive me.

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When Peter asked Jesus,

"Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?

As many as seven times?"

Jesus said to him,

"I do not say to you seven times,

but seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21-22)

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Jesus’ reply,

prescribes the spirit of understanding and mercy

which should govern a Christian’s behaviour.

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In Hebrew,

the figure of seventy times seven means the same as "always".

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Isn’t Peter so representative of us when he asks this question?

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Here we can see the contrast

between man’s ungenerous and calculating approach to forgiveness,

and God’s infinite mercy.

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If we truly love God,

then, like Him, we will always forgive others,

and we will do so wholeheartedly.

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QUOTE…

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“Our Lord did not limit forgiveness to a fixed number,

but declared that it must be continuous and forever"

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– St. John Chrysostom

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"Force yourself, if necessary, always to forgive those who offend you,

from the very first moment.

For the greatest injury or offense that you can suffer from them

is nothing compared to what God has pardoned you."

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– St. Josemaria Escriva

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PRAYER…

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Lord Jesus, make me more like You, make me all-forgiving,

that I too may be forgiven by You.

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