Seventy-Seven Times

When Peter asks Jesus how often we should forgive someone who has wronged us, Jesus is very clear and direct: "  I say to not seven times, but seventy seven times"  (Lk 18: 22), which is the equivalent of saying, "endlessly, always".  This is another one of those "hard sayings" that challenges our instinct to hold a grudge, to get even, or simply stop talking to the offender.  Again, Jesus tells us to go against the natural inclination and to reach higher.  Jesus always raises the bar.
Father Jacques Philippe, a French priest and renowned spiritual director adds his insight to this passage:
It bears repeating...that unless we understand the importance of forgiveness and practice it in our relations with others, we will never achieve inner freedom but will always be prisoners of our own bitterness.
When we refuse to forgive someone for harm done to us, we are adding anther wrong to the first.  That solves nothing at all.  We are increasing the quantity of evil in the world, which has quite enough a it is.  Let us not join in the propagation of evil.  St. Paul tell us: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Rm 12: 21)
Let us make it a point to practice forgiveness today as a head start on our "seventy-seven times."
Bro .Rene