TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS AT MASS TODAY

Sirach 27:30-28:7

Psalm 103

Rom. 14:7-9

Matt. 18:21-35

Theme: FORGIVENESS

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

Forgiveness is a complex concept. To be honest, it is a very difficult thing to talk about and even more difficult to do. There is pressure on us from all sides to forgive the hurt we carry in our hearts. Everyone including Those around us expects us to forgive. There are over 62 passages in the Bible that talk about forgiveness and not even a single one on how to forgive. 

Anyone who has ever been hurt before will understand how difficult and impractical the concept of forgiveness is. In the face of real injury and pain, many of us become weak and too helpless to handle the concept of forgiveness. The question of how we forgive and How many times we endure this unpleasant scenario comes into play.

Peter's question to Jesus in today's Gospel is our question too. Just like every painful experience, we desire to put a limit on forgiving those who consistently hurt us. Jesus, however, debunks the notion of limits to establish forgiveness as an attitude rather than a religious practice. 

We must develop an attitude of forgiveness. The attitude of forgiveness is very crucial for every Christian. The point is that, as long as we live people will continue to offend us. We will, one way or another be hurt by the action of those around us. Until forgiveness becomes a habit, an attitude something we do over and over without even thinking about it and its cost, we cannot be worthy of God's favorable glance.

PRAYER

Lord God, teach me to develop an attitude of forgiveness. May I be able to forgive all the hurt that has rubbed me off my happiness. Amen. 

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, September 17, 2023.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.