Word from the Pastor

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear Brothers and Sisters, ,
Forgiveness: the path to freedom.
“Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive?” - Matthew 18:21
“Forgiveness is one of the greatest challenges of Christian life. It is easy to forgive when the wound is small, but when someone we love and trust hurts us deeply, forgiveness can seem almost impossible.

The truth is that we have all been hurt, and we have all hurt others. We are all sinners in need of God’s mercy. As the Psalm reminds us, “The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in kindness.” God continually forgives us, not because we deserve it, but because He is merciful.

When Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive, Jesus answers, “Not seven times but seventy-seven times.” Jesus is not giving us a mathematical number. He is teaching us that forgiveness must not have a limit.

God forgives us so that we may learn to forgive others.

Forgiveness does not mean pretending that the hurt never happened. It does not mean that injustice was acceptable, nor does it mean that healthy boundaries are unnecessary. Sometimes reconciliation takes time, and trust must be rebuilt. But forgiveness means refusing to allow anger, resentment, and the wounds of the past to control our lives.

We may remember the hurt without allowing the hurt to own us.

When we refuse to forgive, we can remain prisoners of the past. But when we forgive, we place our pain into God's hands and allow Him to heal our hearts. Forgiveness may not change the person who hurt us, but it changes us. It sets us free.

Perhaps today there is someone you need to forgive. Perhaps there is someone from whom you need to ask forgiveness. Bring that person before Christ and pray:

“Lord, You have forgiven me so many times. Give me the grace to forgive those who have hurt me, and the humility to ask forgiveness when I have hurt others.”

Let us remember:

Forgiveness is not weakness. Forgiveness is freedom.

May the mercy we receive from God become the mercy we offer to one another. May Christ heal our wounded relationships and give us the grace to live in peace, reconciliation, and freedom.

Forgive. Let go. Choose peace. Live in the freedom of Christ.

Amen

Rev. Fritzner J. Bellonce
Pastor