Matthew 18, 21-35:
“Peter went up to Jesus and said: Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times? Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy times seven’.
‘It’s okay!”. “I give you a last chance!”. “I forgive you, but I do not forget!”.
These are expressions we use frequently when we talk about forgiveness.
Imagine if the Lord also said something like that to you and to me.
At least as far as I am concerned, I would have already exhausted long ago all the opportunities.
But the Lord is compassionate and merciful. Forgive seventy times seven. That means that you must always forgive.
Lent is a time of mercy. Of the mercy of God and also our mercy.
In the first place, do not hesitate to get closer to the Lord asking for his forgiveness and mercy. He will give it to you without measure, if you throw yourself at his feet like those people in today’s gospel.
And, secondly, you also practice mercy. Don’t be like the debtor of the ten thousand talents.
Always grant forgiveness with the same mercy that God does with you: up to seventy times seven. That is to say, always.
Good day.
Antonio Sanjuán Marín, cmf
