by Sister Agnes Fischer
In today's Gospel (a fitting one for our commemoration of 9/11) Jesus asks us to pardon our brothers and sisters "not seven times but seventy-seven times" and "from the heart." Our prayer today could include these petitions:
Lord, help me pardon from the heart ...
... those responsible for so many deaths and so much suffering on
9/11.
... those who recruit, train and arm young terrorists.
... those who continue to end life in abortion clinics, euthanasia
centers and state death chambers.
And, closer to home, help me to forgive ...
... the offensive noise and yelling around the house.
... my son's temper tantrums.
... the unjust scolding from Mom or Dad.
... an inferred humiliation from my co-worker.
... being cut off in traffic.
... the bad manners of the service rep or store clerk.
... my brother's debt which he cannot cancel right now.
... the favor I did not receive from my best friend.
Then, Lord, I can really ask you to forgive me.
It takes a really truly good person to be able to forgive. God grant me the strength to be able to do that.
Sr. Agnes,
Thank you for raising consciousness of the many opportunities we have to forgive - 70 times 7 times. And that it is so important to do so because I seek forgiveness from God so very often. Yes, it is important to connect this Gospel on forgiveness to daily life as well as to the horrendous action of terrorists on 9-11-01.
Hi Sr. Agnes,
You are always able to take the Gospel and bring its application to our day to day lives.
Thank you, Mary K.
Sometimes it is harder to forgive myself than to forgive someone else. I've always wondered why forgiveness is not one of the Fruit of the Spirit or maybe it is a part of all of the fruits.