How often have you heard someone say I will forgive but I won’t forget! Or practised this yourself? God’s mercy and love is such that He forgives us totally with no record for recollection. Our transgressions are wiped totally clean for we have come before Him with a contrite heart and spirit. How can we do any less for our brother or sister who are contrite for the hurts and pains they have caused us? How can we withhold forgiveness or hold to the memory of the sin against us? For us to be forgiven by our merciful God we too must be merciful to our brethren without reservation.
Uncontrolled anger and Unforgiveness is not the way of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and leads to our downfall and into deeper sin. Instead we should bring it all to the Lord who will give us the wisdom, courage and love to release it all. To experience His love and peace and be transformed as to share His peace and love with everyone.
Teach us O Lord to forgive as You forgive, help us remember that the one who sin against us is still our brother or sister who belongs to the same family of God. And continue to lead us and protect us from evil as we strive to turn away from sin and remain faithful to the Gospels. Amen
FIRST READING
Ezekiel 18:21–28
GOSPEL
Matthew 5:20–26
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”
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