Good morning. If we want to forgive, we must live forgiveness. In today’s
Gospel Jesus notes that He very much wants to protect us and to keep us from our sinful ways, to help us become more merciful and loving individuals, but He notes that so often we are unwilling to accept His help. “How many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings.” He offered Himself up that we might come to know how to love. To love for us means to do likewise, to do for someone knowing they may not love us in return. Just as our Lord gave of Himself for us knowing we would disappoint Him, we must do the same. In marriage we are called to give of our self as Jesus did. We are called to do for our spouse knowing that we may not always be loved in return. We are called to forgive our spouse knowing we may well be offended again. To forgive is to make a deliberate decision to release the offending person from whatever they did. We must! Jesus is very clear about this, He
instructs us in no uncertain terms: “And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” It is not easy but through prayer we can find the strength to offer our forgiveness and our love. To forgive is liberating, it frees us from the anger, resentment and bitterness we feel when we hold a grudge towards others. Living forgiveness in marriage means instead of focusing on what draws us apart we look to what brings us together. This is not easy, and it is because of this that our Lord stands ready, like a mother hen, to take us under His wings and guide us and offer to us the strength to be merciful and loving. Make a great day!
Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of
Saint Frumentius of Ethiopia.
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