I have a difficult time forgiving anyone who wrongs me. I mull over the offense for a long time, contemplating just how I can even the score. Not very Christian, I know.
Once one of my relatives came to stay with us. And I noticed that during the family rosary every evening he would omit saying the words “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
One day I got up the courage to ask him about it. He said someone had really hurt him, and he wasn’t about to forgive that person. So he figured he’d better not say those words because he’d be calling the Lord’s condemnation upon himself.
Let it be known, however, that before he died, he did finally forgive the person who had wronged him, and I’m sure Our Lord accordingly forgave him as well.
My lesson for today: Let’s ask Our Lord to give us the insight to forgive even when we have no motive or incentive to do so. Only then can we hope to receive the forgiveness to enter heaven.
Father John Harrison, C.Ss.R.
Timonium, Md.
Scripture readings for today: Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalm 34; Matthew 6:7-15