7th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, Year I)

Community Word: God’s word calls us to proclaim His love.

Theme: We proclaim God’s love when we forgive those who have wronged us.

Promise:“Forgive and you will be forgiven.”(Lk 6:37b)

Reflection:
Our theme for this week expresses the message of the Gospel of the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time – We proclaim God’s love when we forgive those who have wronged us. We are exhorted to forgive people,including family members, relatives, friends, members of our community and society as whole, who have offended us, maltreated us, and most especially those who have hurt us the most. God is calling us to be merciful to them and to always have a heart willing to pardon those who have wronged us, as well as to ask pardon from those whom we have hurt ourselves.

As Catholic Christians and community members, we have experienced forgiveness through personal repentance, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and through life changing renewal in the various encounters and LSS that led us to be reconciled with God and with our own family. But because of our sinful nature, we still continue to offend God and frequently hurt each other in our words and actions and even in our thoughts. When we become estranged from one another because of this, there is much reason to be reconciled with each other. It demands from us to ask God forgiveness with all humility, as well as from the person whom we have hurt, or forgive those who have hurt us. Yet when it comes to forgiveness, it would seem easy for us to demand mercy from God (Lord, please forgive me), but want justice for the sinner (They must be punished for what they did). Or perhaps say, ‘I can’t forgive that person until he says he is sorry.’

But the teaching of Jesus is to forgive all those who have betrayed us, rejected us or caused us emotional wounds. He is very explicit, “If you forgive others their transgressions, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither your Heavenly Father will forgive your transgressions,” (Mt 6:11-15). This is the same message that Jesus teaches us in the ‘Our Father’ prayer. Our love for others, even our ‘enemies’ must encompass the same kindness and mercy that Jesus showed us on the cross – “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” It is easier to show kindness and mercy when we expect to benefit from doing so. It is much harder if we expect nothing in return. Indeed, it is very difficult to forgive someone who has slighted or pained us. Pope Francis has said: “Human strength or will is not enough to be able to forgive; it requires grace from the Holy Spirit.”It is grace to treat others not as they deserve, but with loving kindness and mercy as God wishes them to be treated.

Here are three practical steps that are helpful in forgiveness:
1. Take your mind off the person you can’t forgive. Do not allow yourself to grumble, or justify your situation, or feel sorry for yourself, or think about ways to get even. Suppress these thoughts as soon as you see him/ her coming.
2. Remember that you are a sinner too. Recall specific ways you needed forgiveness. Ask God to help you, and practice being grateful for the mercy God has shown you.
3. Every time that person comes to mind, say the words, ‘I forgive you’ whether you feel it or not. Make it an act of the will and ask the Holy Spirit to pour God’s love into your heart. Over time, start asking God to bless the person. Romans 12:14 says, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” Resolve to make this a habit and watch how that sets your heart free.
All of us have received the mercy of God. He has forgiven our sins, washed them away, even though we do not deserve it. This is why St. Paul tells the Ephesians,“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you,” (Eph 4:31-32). Then, we will reap the promise of God that we will be forgiven because we choose to forgive, (cf Lk 6:37b).

Prayer:
God our Father, I know that it is very difficult to forgive those who have maligned me, abused me and hurt me. I need your Holy Spirit to grant me the grace to forgive those persons who have wounded me so much. Come, Holy Spirit, and pour God’s great love into my heart and set my heart free from lingering dregs of resentment and bitterness that prevent me to experience complete forgiveness. Amen.

Reflection Guide Questions:
1.Are your harboring feeling of resentment or bitterness towards someone (family, friend, community member)? Offer a prayer for this person everyday until your heart is set free from those ill feelings. Also, go to confession as soon as you can.
2.What has been your experience when you decided to forgive someone due to a deep seated hurt?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
February 24, 2019 (Sun)-Sm 26:2, 7-9, 12, 13, 22, 23/Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12, 13/1Cor 15:45-49/Lk 6:27-38
February 25, 2019 (Mon)-Sir 1: 1-10/Ps 93:1, 1, 2, 5/Mk 9:14-29
February 26, 2019 (Tue)-Sir 2:1-11/Ps 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40/Mk 9:30-37
February 27, 2019 (Wed)- Sir 4:11-19/Ps 119:165,168,171,172,174,175/Mk 9:38-40
February 28 2019 (Thu)-Sir 5:1-8/Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6/Mk 9:41-50
March 1,2019 (Fri) -Sir 6:5-17/Ps 119:12, 16, 18, 27, 34, 35/Mk 10:1-12
March 2, 2019 (Sat) – Sir 17:1-15/Ps 103:13-18/Mk 10:13-16

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”