In today's Gospel, the Lord elaborates on one of those principles that he taught that was unheard
of until the time of his coming. For it is easy, he tells us, to love our friends, but how much
more difficult it is to love our enemies and to forgive. And so he begins to expound upon
this forgiveness that we must be willing to forget many offenses. Even the apostles struggled
with the teaching and sought clarification, St. Peter asking how many times must he forgive
offenses, and the Lord would tell him seven times seven, seventy. That is, every time a person asks
for and shows themselves worthy of forgiveness. For the Lord does not tell us to forgive foolishly,
but we must also see signs of repentance upon
those that we have forgiven.
That we are to forgive, we are always to give the opportunity because we too desire to have
that same opportunity when we have failed the Lord by sin, and in failing him, we often
do so through sinning against our neighbor. And so, when we truly repent, we seek that
forgiveness, that forgiveness that every member of the mystical body is required to give because
he has first received that forgiveness from his Lord. And so, our Lord promises us if this is
the disposition of our lives, then he will give us the reward in good measure, packed together,
shaken down, and overflowing. And ultimately, the Lord is referring to that gift of eternal
beatitude by which we dwell with the angels and saints for all eternity, praising the good God
who came first to forgive us, to show us the way of forgiveness so that we too may be merciful,
just as his heavenly Father was merciful. The Father's mercy extended
to the very fact that he would send the second person of the Blessed Trinity, and he would
acquire that sacred humanity through the Blessed Virgin Mary in order to offer it in sacrifice for
our sins so that the mercy of God will be available to all souls. And so, part of our
forgiveness is precisely so that by doing so we may draw souls to the mystical body of Christ.
And so, let us strive always and everywhere,
knowing that the Lord is always with us. And so, let us strive always and everywhere, knowing
that the Lord is always with us. And so, let us strive always and everywhere, knowing that the
Lord is always with us. And so, let us strive always and everywhere, knowing that the
Lord is always with us. And so, let us strive always and everywhere, knowing that the Lord is
always with us. And so, let us strive always and everywhere, knowing that the
Lord is always with us. And so, let us strive always and everywhere, knowing that the
Lord is always in all the world. And so, let us strive always and everywhere, knowing that the
Lord is always with us. And so, let us strive always and everywhere, knowing that the
Lord is always in all the world. And so, let us strive always and everywhere, knowing that the
Lord is always in all the world. And so, let us strive always and everywhere, knowing that the
Lord is always in all the world. And so, let us strive always and everywhere, knowing that the
Lord is always in all the world. And so, let us strive always and everywhere, knowing that the
We do not judge actions insofar as they are good or bad,
but we judge them according to his principles,
but we are not to pass that final judgment,
that judgment of condemning,
because that alone is reserved to God and to God alone.
In this life, while there is time,
while there is still life in the soul,
there is an opportunity to acquire God's mercy
and to receive his forgiveness,
and that must be manifested to the world
through the mystical body of Christ.
And so let us truly strive as citizens of the church
to show the world that the Lord truly will give them that reward,
which alone can bring happiness to the human heart
by showing our gratitude towards the Lord
for the forgiveness that we have first received from him
by going forth, forgiving the enemies of the church,
forgiving all those who have offended us
so that they may too come to know the mercy of God
and ultimately,
may come to know that final gift
which God wishes to bestow on all souls
who serve them in this life,
that joy which alone can be acquired in heaven
and is done so in this life
by a penitential life,
by a sacrificial life,
by a life of prayer
which we constantly ask the Lord
for the good things of the soul,
both for ourselves and for our neighbors,
so that all souls may come to know him in this life,
may come to serve him in this life,
so that they may truly,
enjoy him for all eternity
by the gift of charity in the life to come.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.