Monday of the
32nd Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial
of Saint Leo the Great
November 10, 2014 8:30AM
Right after Jesus talks about
forgiveness, and the calling to forgive an unlimited number of times, what
happens?
The apostles ask Jesus to “strengthen their faith.”
Jesus has been preparing them and
teaching them about discipleship.
But it is this lesson on
forgiveness that just seems to be over the top.
They are not sure they are strong
enough or have enough faith to be that forgiving.
And, I can understand.
If we are left to our own human
selves, forgiving someone who has hurt or offended us is very difficult.
The way Jesus talks about
forgiving – he talks a good bit about it and really emphasizes it – we have to
conclude that it is a trait central to God.
It is rooted in who God is – God
is love, as Saint John says.
So forgiveness is an action of
God.
It is a divine action.
No wonder it is hard and no
wonder the apostles ask Jesus to strengthen their faith.
Forgiving is possible if we
become one with God, one with Jesus.
As Jesus says, nothing is
impossible with God.
So, if we open ourselves to
fuller and fuller communion with God, if we allow the light and love of God to
wash over and through us, if we do this through prayer and the Eucharist, then
we may discover a power to forgive – from God.
And, of course, if we just recall
the times when we needed forgiveness and were forgiven, by others or ion the
Sacrament of Reconciliation, that will also be a way for God’s grace to empower
us to be forgiving.
This is how Jesus answers the
apostles and strengthens their faith and now our faith.
Forgiving is a Godly action and
it takes God’s presence and power and grace to do it.
