Forgiveness

Daily Lent journaling with the “With You ” Open Journey Creative Bible study kit.

Day 21

FORGIVE
This is a deep issue.
The reading from Matthew 18: 21-22 “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!”
is such a great reminder on forgiveness.

Although it has even a deeper meaning that points us to Jesus being crucified for us and the ocean of Divine Mercy that splashes over us on a daily basis.
For a deeper study if we look at Luke 4 where Jesus reads from the book of Isaiah 61, proclaiming that the Year of Lord’s favor has been fulfilled in their hearing, meaning: He is the Anointed one, the Messiah who will bring forgiveness of debts. He is talking about the Jubilee year mentioned in Leviticus 25 and the about Daniel’s prophecy in Daniel 9:20-27 which contains the explicit prophecy of the death of Messiah: the 7×70 years.

This is why the depth of this issue: the 7×70 is the time where God himself freed us from all debt, therefore we have to forgive at our turn.
St Teresa of Calcutta has a beautiful point:
” Non-forgiving can destroy you for life. It’s an obstacle for life…Show me a bitter sister and I will show you a proud sister. A bitter sister is always a proud sister also. Bitterness and pride are twin sisters – moodiness goes with it. A humble sister will not be bitter or moody. Examine yourselves… Remember the prodigal son? I will arise and go to my Father. Only when we know we need forgiveness can we forgive.”