Forgiveness

Friday, February 22, 2013

Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28 | Psalm 105 | Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

GREAT FORGIVENESS

“He made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions.” - Psalm 105:21

After Jesus fasted for forty days in the desert, He “returned in power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14). Likewise, we will emerge from this Lenten period as men and women of God, “filled with faith and the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5), but only if we accept God’s grace to forgive those who have hurt us.

Joseph became one of the greatest people in history and one of the most powerful men in the world, but he first had to forgive his brothers for planning to murder him and selling him into slavery (Genesis 37:20, 28). Jesus, the Greatest of all, God Himself, was the stone rejected by the builders (Matthew 21:42). Jesus was rejected so viciously that He was nailed to a cross. There He prayed: “Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). The greatest people are the greatest forgivers.

Forgiveness is one of the major graces we seek during Lent. Forgiveness is the road to greatness, the way of the cross, the vocation of every person. Forgive and be great.

Prayer: Father, may I forgive as Jesus forgave when He hung on the cross.