No Counting Forgiveness!

One of the commentaries for today started out with this line, "Forgiveness cannot be calculated." It went on to say that if we are keeping a tally of how many times we forgive and are getting close to Jesus' comments about forgiving seventy-seven times, then we are not forgiving at all. The context for today is the Gospel of Saint Matthew, 18:21-35. Peter approached our Lord and asked, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?" Jesus responded by saying, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy seven times." Truly, we cannot put a count on forgiveness, it is an unconditional gift. Our ultimate example is Jesus on the cross when he forgives those who have done this to him, "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do." Those examples continue down to our present day. The one example I always like to reference is when Blessed John Paul II went to visit the man who tried to assassinate him in 1981. I call that the example of forgiveness heard around the world. I don't know how many would do that because in our world we think of violence and revenge, instead of forgiveness. However, this Lenten Time is a great reminder of how much God's loves us and how His forgiveness is unconditional. We experience the love, mercy, compassion, forgiveness of God in a special way when we approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As God forgives us, may we have the grace and courage to do the same. There is no counting when it comes to forgiveness, it is unconditional! God Bless You!!!