...seventy times seven!

by Elizabeth Howe

Here is an excerpt I couldn’t resist from one of my commentary’s wise essays on forgiveness…

            It is not necessary for us to suffer great injustice before we show charity. Those little things which happen each day are opportunity enough: arguments in the home over trifling matters; sharp replies or disconcerting gestures (often caused by no more than tiredness) at work, in traffic jams or in the rush of public transport.
            We would not be living our Christian life well if, at the least sign of friction, our charity began to grow cold and we began to feel distanced from others, or if we ourselves turned glum. Nor would it be very Christian if, when perhaps some serious damage was to cause us to lose our sense of the presence of God, our soul was to lose its peace and joy.  We would not be behaving in a Christian way if we allowed ourselves to become touchy. We must examine ourselves to see what our reactions are like when the irritations of the day crop up.  Following our LORD closely implies finding, even in the area of tiny contradictions or in the case of more serious injustices, the way to holiness.
           The humility of recognizing the many debts we owe to God helps us to pardon and to forgive others.  Our attitude to minor grievances must be one of minimizing their importance (an importance which, in reality, is what very often they don’t have) and of forgiving with good grace and without fuss. In forgiving and forgetting, it is we ourselves who have most to gain. Our life becomes more joyful and more serene, and trifles don’t upset us.  …We must understand everyone; we must live peaceably with everyone; we must forgive everyone.  Excerpt from In Conversation with God, Volume 2, Essay 21. To Pardon and Forgive, pg. 155,156,157 Francis Fernandez

 

This is a tall order for sure! One in which we can rely on the grace, wisdom, and strength of the Holy Spirit, who resides deep in our hearts, to help lead us to heroic love, based on HIS merciful love offered from the cross.  His grace is sufficient for us!  These are great things to ponder in our own quiet prayer time.  Think deeply about your motives, grudges, resentments, hurts etc. and let them go. Be merciful as your Father in heaven is merciful.  Let’s make an aim to continue to grow in holiness our whole lives!   Dig DEEP, think DEEPLY, trust FULLY and forgive HUMBLY in His merciful, everlasting, steadfast grace!

 In Conversation with God Commentary

 Meditating on Scripture with PONDERINGS CARDS can help you recognize God's GRACE active in your life, help the WORD of Christ dwell in you richly and the PEACE of Christ rule in your hearts!

 

Act of Contrition Prayer

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy on me. AMEN.

 

Inspired by these Scripture Verses:

 Then Peter came up and said to him, “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 22:21-22

 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36

 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

 Remember not the sins of my youth, or my transgressions; according to thy steadfast love remember me, for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord! Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, he instructs sinners in the way. Psalms 25:7-8

 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15

 But thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Psalms 86:15

 For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Psalms 103:11-12

 Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7

Clear me from my hidden faults. Psalms 19:12

 And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. So also, my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. Matthew 18:34-35

 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;  give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” Luke 6:37-38

 Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little. Luke 7:47

 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34

 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:12-17

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

...and my favorite quote from St. Faustina's Diary (#1074-1076)

"Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful heart and I will fill it with peace. Tell all people, my daughter, that I am Love and Mercy itself.  When a soul approaches Me with trust, I fill it with such an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls. "

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