TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Finding Forgiveness in the Small Things

In each reading today, we are taught to let go of anger and instead offer forgiveness. For it is through forgiveness that we encounter our Lord. While it is hard to forgive, it is what God calls us to do from Sirach in the Old Testament all the way to Jesus in the New Testament and today.  

Our Lord is a just and loving God. He is slow to anger and quick to mercy and compassion, and we are called to live and practice like Christ taught us. Yet, as humans, I think we are sometimes confused. In our human nature, we tend to be quick to anger and slow to mercy and forgiveness. We need instead to remember that the act of forgiveness moves our souls each time we give or are given it. 

The human soul is inspired by grand gestures, and we are encouraged by storylines in books, movies, news and real-life experiences where the grand gesture is the climax of the story. Every romantic comedy ends with some kind of grand gesture: asking forgiveness for a total mess up … and then they live happily ever after.  What we don't see is the everyday forgiveness they must give to each other in order to make the relationship work. It is sometimes easier to forgive the big stuff and not the small stuff. We tend to hold on to the tiny transgressions our loved ones make against us: the wrong look, a judgy comment, not showing gratitude, not returning phone calls, etc.  Many times, we do not even realize that we are holding on to these frustrations and withholding forgiveness. We like to use the words “always” and “never” when we argue with our loved ones because deep down we are still holding onto their past mistakes and failures.

This is what Jesus is addressing in today's Gospel when Peter asked how many times he needed to forgive his brother. "Not seven times," Jesus says, "but seventy-seven times" (Mt.18:21). Jesus stressed the importance of giving forgiveness always, especially in everyday life. It is in these smaller moments that we encounter Christ and remember to include Him in our lives. It is in these small moments of forgiveness that our heart is drawn closer to Jesus and to our loved ones. It is in these small moments that we get to witness Christ in each other. 

While everyone deserves a few grand gestures in their lives, let's focus on seeing Christ in the small moments and offer the forgiveness Jesus says we need to give. In this way the Father can also give us forgiveness of our own sins, and we can be drawn closer into His arms!

--Charlene Sippel

Send Us Forth are reflections written by St. Matthew parishioners and friends.