There is a famous saying that ‘to err is human, while to forgive is divine.’ That means that the one who sins actually acts humanly. Our tendency to sin is part of being a human. Now on the other hand, the one who forgives is the one who acts divinely. This is because to forgive is to participate in the very nature of God. That is His divinity. He is compassionate, merciful, loving and forgiving.
The readings for this Sunday focus on forgiveness. In the Gospel, it is Peter that approaches Jesus and asks, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus responds, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” Jesus’ response reminds us that forgiveness does not have limits. We must forgive all, always and forever.
What does it mean to forgive all, always and forever? First, it does not just mean, “I forgive you.” It means something much more profound. It means restoring a unity that may be possible with forgiveness. It means to heal a wound without leaving a scar. This can be hard to experience.
We do get some help from our first reading from the Book of Sirach. We must forgive others in order for our own prayers to be answered. “Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the Lord?” We are all sinners needing God’s forgiveness. So, to be forgiven, we must first forgive others. In this reading, we are urged to forgive our neighbors, the hurt that is done to us, so that when we pray, our own sins may be healed.
This call to forgive those that have hurt us is not only a call to free others from their sin, but to begin to forgive and heal ourselves. It is essential that we work to forgive ourselves for the faults we have committed. A grieving or a guilty conscience because of one’s mistakes in life takes away our life. We must forgive ourselves. This is also hard for us. Maybe impossible ‘for us.’ But it is a gift given to us, an invitation from Jesus. A reconciliation with God and neighbor.
He who forgives acts divinely, like Jesus. So, as we pray today in the words that Jesus himself taught us, ‘Forgive us our ‘sins,’ as we forgive those who ‘sin’ against us.’ Let us ask God to help us be true to these words and continue to encourage each other each day. Amen.