forgiveness: how often is too often

Daniel 3:25,34-43; Psalm 25 Remember your mercies, O Lord; Matthew 18:21-35

Just a few thoughts about the readings.

The first reading from the prophet Daniel is taken form the story of the three young men thrown into the fire and how God comes to rescue them from the flames.

I just love the opening lines of the reading for today, "Azariah stood up in the fire and prayed aloud."

Just stop and let then image fill your mind. Azariah stood up int he fire!

Pretty amazing. HE is standing in fire and yet not burning. Praying has a way of cooling the heat of our lives.

He stood up in the fire and prayed aloud. What a beautiful invitation for us in life, especially during lent. Talk about great courage under fire. (pun intended)

Now to the gospel.

We have today one of many times in which Jesus teaches on Forgiveness.

I always love Peter's question, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?"

Peter thinks he is being generous when he suggest seven times is quite a lot to give. But his focus isn't so much on being generous is focus is on trying to figure out or narrow down when enough is enough.

Isn't this what we want to know. When is enough, enough? When can we say we had enough? When is our turn to stop turning the cheek?

How often is too often?

Obviously this mentality is a product of the fallen state of man. But we are no longer just fallen, We have been redeemed and we are being redeemed. Thus, we must act accordingly.

We must never lose sight that it is mercy and forgiveness that redeems us. Our duty is to return the favor; we must give to others we we receive, seventy-seven times.

We can never be more gracious than God, but we can try.

Peter thought he was being generous but JEsus reminds him that there is always room for more. Such it is with us.

Human forgiveness must be patterned after the divine gift itself in Christ.

Here are a few words from St. Josemarie Escriva

"The more generous you are for God, the happier you will be....The Summit? For a soul which has surrendered itself, everything becomes a summit to conquer. Every day it discovers new goals, because it does not know how, or want, to limit the love of God."

Forgiving is also being generous. The magnanimity of God is always ready to imprint itself in our life; we have plenty of opportunity to allow his stamp of approval to be seen in our gift of forgiveness.