3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

January 24, 2021

I would l like to begin my talk today with a prayer. Oh God, if I have wronged others, give me the opportunity to apologize and if they have wronged me, give me the power to forgive. This could be one of the themes of todays scripture readings.

Forgiveness can be very difficult and often is. I would like to tell you a story about a single mother that I met down in Texas. She told me with tears in her eyes that her daughter was murdered a short time after celebrating her 20^th birthday. This mother was consumed with anger for the murderer and with God. I cannot imagine what it must be like for a parent to go through something like that, and it would seem, that the perfectly natural, instinct would be to hate. At a time like this I try to put myself in that person’s shoes and ask how I would react in a situation like this and I think that I too would have a real struggle and would most likely react like Jesus on the cross when he said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This woman told me that she found it very difficult to pray and I asked her why, and she said that she was afraid that God would indicate to her that she should forgive the murderer and she was not ready to just yet. I prayed for the grace and peace in her life and eventually through the grace of God she did forgive the murderer and not only that, but she became an ambassador for parents whose children died violent deaths. I have always looked on this as a powerful story of forgiveness and it shows that it is possible only with God’s help and in his time.

So why should we forgive at all? First, forgiveness even on a natural scale is a key to good health. Recently I came across a little segment from a Mayo Clinic website that states, “Those who forgive have healthier relationships, greater spiritual and psychological well-being, less anxiety and stress, lower blood pressure, fewer symptoms of depression and a lower risk of alcohol and substance abuse and says no other decision in our lives has such ability and power.”

Secondly, we all need God’s forgiveness and for as much as we have been forgiven by God in the past and as much as we will need his forgiveness in the future, do we have any right whatsoever to place a limit in our forgiveness of others?

Thirdly, we know that God forgives us, but I believe it is difficult to experience God’s forgiveness, if we hold on to our petty grudges and resentments. Holding a grudge takes a lot of emotional energy. We need to get rid of that baggage.

So, I conclude as I began; O God, if I have wronged others, give me the opportunity to apologize and if others have wronged me, give me the power to forgive.  May God go with you