How Often Must I Forgive?

Peter's question to Christ in today's Gospel, speaks dead-center about how we, as humans, sometimes like to escape the personal dying and rising moments that come into our lives.  Forgiveness is a challenge for most of us.   I know, it is for me.   I have difficultly forgiving myself, others and even God, depending upon the "size" and           "occasion" of the hurt.   It takes a lot out of me to swallow and overcome the anger, hurt and justice issues that may be attached to my need to forgive.   To make it even harder, society does not encourage me to forgive.  Rather, I am encouraged to retaliate, to look out only for myself and even to sue anyone that hurts me.  Simply put, Resurrection Spirituality calls me to die to myself and my hurt feelings and to rise to a more spiritual way of dealing with the hurts of life.   It takes effort.  Sometimes this dying is very painful.   Yet, isn't that what we, as disciples are called to do?

I wonder how I would react if God considered all my sins to be inscribed with a magic marker, never to be erased or forgotten?  I wonder why I sometimes treat others as if their sins and mistakes are permanently etched in my heart, in my memory and in my actions or lack of action towards them?   How can I as a disciple, act differently than Jesus did?  

Lord, I ask for the grace to die to myself today in any way that I am withholding forgiveness from another.  It is never too late to erase the past, even if the past was an hour ago.  It may take pain and anguish on my part, so your grace is needed and appreciated.   Help me to forgive others as you have always forgiven me.  



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