Forgive March 13

Deliver us by your wonders. Daniel 3:43

So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart. Matthew 18:35

Piety

Forgiving Father, let us not cast the first stones of desire and distrust, gossip and greed. Help us to break the cycle of laziness, hatred, resentment and vengeance with the challenge to love one another in right relationships with compassion and justice. Help us to go in peace to bring your word and works from the sanctuary to the streets by spurring our community to action. May we participate in the kingdom by our forgiving and find refreshment in knowing that the slate is clean so we are free to ask: “Whom do I need to forgive?”

Help us to recognize Jesus is with us – incarnate on the road to our Emmaus. Because He is with us, we can approach You with confidence despite our trespasses and our failure to forgive. Because he is with us, we can seek your healing and draw closer to You each day and desire to imitate your Divine Mercy and Perfection. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/031307.shtml

We pray it from memory, by rote. But do we act like the Lord’s Prayer calls us to act?

We want God to remember his role. But are we holding up our end of the bargain?

The Father’s forgiveness is already given – and given freely just like it was to the Prodigal Son. However, today, we see the other side of the coin. That gift will be withdrawn at the final judgment for those who have not imitated his forgiveness by their own.

“Forgive us our sin, AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US.”

Action

Whom do I need to forgive?

We all have our demons. Think of people who have set your demons aside and loved you despite your faults and flaws.

What demons have gotten in the way of your forgiveness? How small and petty might they be? Banish them from your heart so you can imitate the Father.