Seventy-Seven Times

Forgiving someone who has offended us takes time and is not easy,  as most of us can attest.  So often we hear, "I can never forgive that, or so and so."  Or, I can forgive, but not forget." As realistic as this is, it  also prevents the wound for healing totally.  On top of this, Jesus tells us to forgive "seventy-seven times", translated:  "a limitless number of times".  What impossible thing is he asking us to do? (Mt 18:22).  The secret is in "forgiving from the heart" (Mt 18: 35).  We talk about a "change of heart" during Lent and this kind of total forgiveness becomes possible when our hearts are changed by the grace of God.  We look to Jesus for the example:  He forgives those who crucified him from a heart filled with love, even for them, recognizing their ignorance of the total picture.  "For they know not what they do." (Lk 23:34).  Are we ever sure that those who offend us are doing so out of total malice, or because of so many unspoken, even unknown factors?  And who are we to hold back forgiveness when Jesus as taught us to ask the Father to forgive our trespasses (debts) as we forgive those who trespass against us." (Mt 6:12) ?  This is the time for us to pray for the grace to live these words and move toward the "seventy-seven times" gradually and with God's help.
Bro. Rene