In today's Gospel, Our Lord's reference to the number 77, or as in some translations,
it says 7 times 7 is taken quite literally by some, and indeed, when we ponder the Scripture,
we do take it in its literal meaning, but there is a much more profound meaning,
for 7 in the Scriptural language is the perfect number, and so the Lord is admonish us to perfection,
that is, we are to forgive as many times as someone would ask us to forgive them,
because, as the Lord has pointed out in many passages from Scripture,
He has come in order that not that the sinner may perish, but that the sinner may have life,
and so we must cooperate in His mission of mercy, forgiving all,
but ultimately, today's Gospel is a call for all of us to strive for perfection,
for many of the doctors and fathers saw in this passage a reference to purgatory,
for it is noted that the one who was first forgiven but would not forgive a lesser servant
was handed over to the torturers until he should pay mercy,
the last debt, and so our minds should always also be drawn to those poor souls
now suffering in purgatory, for it is a great act of mercy to pray for them
so that their sentence may be shortened, and they may ultimately be purged
from all those faults and failings from which they parted from this life,
but our Lord, in referring to forgiving 7 times, says that 7 times is calling us also
to recognize that we can make reparation for our sins,
and that we can make reparation for our sins, and that we can make reparation for our sins,
and that we can make reparation for our sins, and that we can make reparation for our sins,
in this life by striving always to exercise charity in that most perfect form,
and so we must show love towards our neighbor and love towards all those who have gone before us
and are now suffering the purifying fires of purgatory,
and so let us constantly pray, for St. Alphonsus tells us,
if we were able by our prayers and our penances and sacrifice to free a soul from purgatory
before his sentence is fully carried out, then we have a friend,
in heaven, who will pray and work for us at all times,
so that we too may persevere in the one holy Catholic faith in this life,
and ultimately receive that reward for which God has created each and every one of us
to be with him forever in heaven, beholding him as he truly is,
for ultimately, as St. Augustine and all the saints point out,
the human soul cannot find happiness, nor can it ever be happy,
unless it beholds the vision of God for all eternity in heaven,
and so let us strive in this life to aim for heaven,
for as St. Thomas reminds us, we must always strive for the greatest of things,
because being human beings, we are weak, and one of the things that suffers is our aim,
and so he would point out, if we were content merely to enter into purgatory,
if we missed, there is only one other alternative,
and so we must strive always and everywhere,
in this life,
strive always for that union in heaven for which we are called,
and ultimately leaving all things to the mercy of God,
commending ourselves because of our faults, failings, and sins,
and also commending others,
and to forgive as the Lord has forgiven us,
for ultimately, that is truly what he is telling us,
none of us, save the blessed Virgin Mary,
can stand before God without any sin,
and so we are all guilty at one level or another,
and so while we must beg mercy from God for ourselves,
we must also beg it for each and every one,
both within the mystical body of Christ,
and outside the mystical body of Christ,
we must pray for all those within the church,
that they persevere in their faith,
and we must pray that all may come to know the faith that the church alone gives to the world,
so that they may be safe in that one haven in this world,
that is safe from the onslaughts of the devil,
that is Holy Mother Church,
for as many saints have pointed out,
it is better to be a sinner within the bosom of Holy Mother Church,
than to be a sinner outside the bosom,
for ultimately, we always have access to the mercy of God,
especially as it is manifested in the sacrament of confession,
by which with contrite hearts,
we truly, humbly confess our sins as they stand before God,
receive his forgiveness,
and then strive to go forward,
always and everywhere,
growing closer to our God,
seeking to serve him,
seeking to serve him in all things,
and in all peoples,
and especially in our neighbor,
and most especially in those who have not yet come to recognize Christ,
as the scripture says,
in the breaking of the bread,
and so let us pray that all may come to know Christ as we know him,
as members of his mystical body,
and let us pray that all may begin to encounter him in the sacrament of baptism,
and continue to grow in holiness,
through the sacraments of the Eucharist,
and of holy confession,
so that all may be found worthy, ultimately,
to enter into that abode,
into that kingdom,
from which we have no more trials or tribulations,
no more temptations to deal with,
but where we simply love God as he is,
together with all the angels and saints,
for all eternity in heaven.
The end of James
ộ비
1960
217
218
227
228
229
2211
2210
202220
2220
232223
233