Reading 1 Is 55:10-11
Thus says the LORD:
Just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
And do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
Giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
So shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
It shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19
R. (18b) From all their distress God rescues the just.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.
The LORD has eyes for the just,
and ears for their cry.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
R. From all their distress God rescues the just.
Gospel Mt 6:7-15
Jesus said to his disciples:
"In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
"This is how you are to pray:
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
"If you forgive men their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."
Meditation: Matthew 6:7-15
If you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” (Matthew 6:15)
Someone causes you to be late for an important meeting. Someone accidentally dents your car while you are stopped at a traffic light. Your husband forgets your birthday. Your son talks back to you in a disrespectful manner. In situations like these, you might find it easy to forgive. After all, they are understandable, and no one was hurt too badly.
But what if you were sexually abused as a child? What if you lived with a harsh parent who never showed you any affection? What if you discovered that your spouse had been cheating on you for years? How easy would it be then to form the three most powerful words: “I forgive you”?
We know that we must for-give—indeed, Jesus commands us to forgive—but sometimes we just can’t do it right away. In many cases, forgiveness is a process that calls for many little steps before we can take that big leap into mercy and pardon. And that’s okay, because Jesus knows our hearts, and he never expects us to do the impossible.
So what steps can we take? The first, and most important, is prayer. In the quiet of our hearts, we can open ourselves to Jesus’ presence and ask him to show us his love and grace. The second step is to ask Jesus just to make us willing to forgive. It is such a simple prayer, but it’s all the Lord needs to begin to heal our hurts. Over time, as we experience his healing love, we will find the ability to forgive.
We all know that the goal of our lives is to become as merciful as our heavenly Father is merciful (Luke 6:36). But what we need to know just as clearly is that in those particularly painful situations, forgiveness is a goal we hope to obtain, not a command we must fulfill immediately. The most important thing is that we begin the journey—and that we try our best to stay on the path of forgiveness. Wherever you are on this journey, today is a great opportunity to take one more step. It doesn’t have to be dramatic, either. God is committed to working dramatically in us, no matter where we are.
“Jesus, give me a share in your own heart of mercy. Lord, teach me to forgive!”
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