EXPRESSING MERCY AND FORGIVENESS TO EACH OTHER

EXPRESSING MERCY AND FORGIVENESS
TO EACH OTHER


Do you EXPRESS mercy and
FORGIVENESS=to those who
Make it difficult for you?


The author of Sirach
Makes it CLEAR that we CANNOT
Expect mercy and forgiveness-
From God


UNLESS we extend it to others
“Should a man refuse
MERCY to his fellows


Yet seek PARDON for his own sins?” Sirach 28:4


Jesus too=expressed how VITAL
These CORE ELEMENTS are in his teachings


Peter asks Jesus=HOW MANY TIMES
Should I forgive my brother=7x=
Pretty GENEROUS right?
LISTEN to Jesus' answer


“I tell you=NOT 7x=
But 77 times” Matthew 18:22


In other words=you NEED to
FORGIVE as many times as your
Brother or sister=sins against you


And Jesus' own PRAYER to
HIS FATHER says:


“And FORGIVE us our debts
As we have also=FORGIVEN
Our debtors” Matthew 16:12


So HOW can we
EXPECT FORGIVENESS from God=
If we don't EXTEND
MERCY & FORGIVENESS to
Our brothers and sisters


WE LIVE in a primarily CHRISTIAN country


HOW can it be then
That within our FAMILY
Of devoted Christians


We have parents disowning their children
SIBLINGS refusing to speak to
ONE ANOTHER


People HOLDING GRUDGES and
DELIBERATELY avoiding RECONCILIATION?
And on and on and on


LAST YEAR Pope Francis designated it
As a YEAR OF MERCY
But every day=every year
IS a DAY of MERCY with God


And it should be with us too=and
For ALL our brothers and sisters
And those in this world


“HAVE MERCY on me-my God
Have mercy on me


For in you I take refuge
I will take REFUGE
In the shadow of your wings


UNTIL the disaster has PASSED” Psalm 57:1


Dear Lord=WE PRAY=that
Our OWN HEARTS express mercy and forgiveness
Toward ANYONE=who brings
HURT into our lives


In the name of JESUS OUR LORD=and his MOSY HEAVENLY FATHER


Robert P. Wallman
9-14-17 for 9-17-17



Ps INSPIRED by an article in LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE by Sr. Joyce Rupp, O.S.M.