In the face of an injustice or offense, it's common for us to experience anger, frustration, or even disbelief. We often hear anger spoken of in an inappropriate or dismissive way, as something to overcome or stifle, but anger when stewarded properly helps us in many ways. It may help us identify and stand up against injustices or danger, it helps us to recognize our boundaries and prudently stand up for them, and it can help motivate us to respond in seeking healthy resolutions in difficult situations. But not all anger is helpful. This Sunday’s readings show us that when someone has wounded us, anger can sometimes feel like a kind of protection - a way of making sure we do not forget what happened. But it calls us to consider: How can I receive God's mercy if I refuse to extend mercy to someone else?
The words from Sirach urge us to: “Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor; remember the Most High’s covenant, and overlook faults.” We are reminded that all of us are people who make mistakes, all of us are people in need of mercy. If we seek to remember how often God has been patient and merciful towards us, we will be more inclined to show that same mercy to others.
This becomes even clearer in the Gospel, when St. Peter asks Jesus how many times he must forgive someone who sins against him. Peter seems to be looking for a reasonable limit. Seven times, to him, sounds generous - but Jesus responds with something far greater: forgiveness without keeping score.
Forgiving from the heart does not mean pretending that a hurt never happened, nor does it mean ignoring injustice or allowing someone to continue hurting us. Oftentimes forgiveness takes conscious effort, intentional boundaries, and ceaseless prayer; but it does mean refusing to let resentment have the final word.
The second reading reminds us that whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. This helps us to see that all of us, even those who have hurt us, belong to God too. They are imperfect, just as we are, and they are also in need of God's mercy. That doesn’t dismiss or forgo necessary consequences, give them free reign, or unfettered access to your heart, but it helps us reconcile our personal and conscious choice to forgive within God’s abundant mercy.
As week head into a new week may we remember the mercy that we have received, seek to “overlook faults,” and desire to be generous in our forgiveness and prudent in seeking reconciliation and relational repair.
