A Latin spiritual journey with discerning hearts, from ashes to glory.

Day 20, persevering in prayer and trusting in God's mercy.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew, Chapter 18, verses 21 and 22.

Then Peter came and said to him, Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often should I forgive?

As many as seven times? Jesus said to him, not seven times, but I tell you, 77 times.

Forgiveness is at the heart of the gospel, yet it is one of the most challenging commands to live out.

When Peter asked Jesus about the limits of forgiveness, Jesus responds with a number that

signifies boundlessness, 77 times. In other words, forgiveness is not something we can measure or ration.

It must flow freely just as God's forgiveness flows freely to us.

This kind of forgiveness is only possible when we recognize how deeply we have been forgiven by God.

It is through God's mercy that our hearts are softened and made capable of forgiving others.

Forgiveness does not mean excusing sin or forgetting the hurt.

Rather, it is a decision to let go of resentment and to entrust justice to God.

The Desert Fathers taught the importance of forgiveness as a path to spiritual freedom.

Abba Joseph said, If you want to find rest here and hereafter, in every trial say,

Who am I? And do not judge others.

Similarly, St. John Christostham, one of the greatest preachers of the early church, reminds us.

Nothing causes us to resemble God more than our willingness to forgive.

Forgiveness transforms not only the person who forgives, but also the community.

It opens the door to healing and reconciliation.

As we reflect today, let us ask,

how can we embrace Jesus' call to forgive without limits?

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