Daily Gospel reflections: God calls us to love and forgive
Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent
“‘Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’” (Matthew 18:33)
I spent several days recently raging about someone else’s faults. An acquaintance had been inconsiderate. I saw her as vain and with a sense of entitlement. Although I know we are called to forgiveness, I didn’t see why I should pretend that she had done nothing wrong.
As I prayed about it, though, I realized that my judgment did not touch her in the least, nor did it influence God’s opinion of her. What it did instead was enrage by own vanity, my own sense of entitlement. I felt better than her. I felt I had the right to judge her. I was committing the very sins that I condemned her for.
Isn’t it interesting? The sins that most annoy me in others are the very ones plaguing me. But I believe that God loves me, in spite of my most grievous faults. God loves her, too. God calls me to do the same.
Father, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
— Karla Manternach
Daniel 3:25, 34-43
Psalms 25:4-5AB, 6, 7BC, 8-9
Matthew 18:21-35
Optional Memorial of St. Patrick Readings:
1 Peter 4:7B-11
Psalms 96:1-2A, 2B-3, 7-8B, 10
Luke 5:1-11
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