Today's gospel, it's easy to say but can be tough to do.
Well its pretty obvious, Forgive as I have been forgiven....
easier said than done sometimes.
It's really crazy how powerful a heartfelt "I'm sorry" really is.
I forgive those that ask for forgiveness, if I can.
If I can’t, I pray that one day I can.
For those who don’t ask for forgiveness, I relish in my anger for them but, …
it makes me a bitter person.
So I’ve been challenging myself to pray, asking God to bless those who have wronged me.
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At times it is really tough to do but, I’m trying to follow Jesus’s example.
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Sometimes it feels like I’m cowering down to those who have wronged me but,
when I look at Him on the cross, I realize that I'm not.
As Yoda once said,
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So by hanging onto my anger, I prolong my suffering.
Praying for my "enemies" and asking God to take away my anger is very challenging to do but I have found it to be freeing.... a little at a time but freeing non-the-less.
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Anger is a destructive chain that we wrap ourselves with. It is a power we give others over us. Praying degrades that chain so we can break free and regain our
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Had to toss that pic in. Whenever I hear that word, I think of that scene.
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What is todays gospel saying to you?
Todays Gospel
Matthew 18:21-35
http://usccb.org/bible/readings/030618.cfm
Peter approached Jesus and asked him,
"Lord, if my brother sins against me,
how often must I forgive him?
As many as seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who decided to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began the accounting,
a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
Since he had no way of paying it back,
his master ordered him to be sold,
along with his wife, his children, and all his property,
in payment of the debt.
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,
'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.'
Moved with compassion the master of that servant
let him go and forgave him the loan.
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a much smaller amount.
He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,
'Pay back what you owe.'
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,
'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
But he refused.
Instead, he had him put in prison
until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,
they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master
and reported the whole affair.
His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant!
I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?'
Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers
until he should pay back the whole debt.
So will my heavenly Father do to you,
unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart."