One Minute Reflection – 14 March – “The Month of the St Joseph” – Tuesday of the Third Week in Lent – 4 Kings 4:1-7, Matthew 18:15-22 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Then Peter came up to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times but seventy times seven.” – Matthew 18:21-22
REFLECTION – “Christ is asking two thing of us – to condemn our sins, to forgive those of the others; to do the first because of the second, which then will be easier, for the person who thinks of his sins will be less severe towards his companion in destitution. And to forgive not only with our mouth but “from the bottom of our heart,” so as not to turn against ourselves, the blade, with which we believe we can pierce the others. What evil can your enemy do to you which would be comparable to that, which you do to yourself? … If you let yourself go, in indignation and anger, you will be wounded, not because of the injury your enemy inflicted upon you but, from the resentment you feel because of it.
So do not say: “He insulted me, he slandered me, he did a great number of wretched things to me.” The more you say he did evil things to you, the more you show that he did you good, since he gave you an opportunity to purify yourself of your sins. Thus, the more he offends you, the more he places you in a state of obtaining the forgiveness of your faults from God. For if we want, no-one can damage us; even our enemies are thus doing us a great service… So consider how many advantages you draw from an injury that is suffered humbly and gently!” – St John Chrysostom (347-407) Bishop of Constantinople, Fasther and Doctor of the Church (Homilies on Saint Matthew no 61).
PRAYER – Almighty and eternal God, Who has dominion over both the living and the dead and has mercy upon all whom Thou foreknow will be Thine by faith and good works; we humbly beseech Thee that all for whom we have resolved to make supplication, whether the present world still holds them in the flesh, or the world to come holds them out of the body, may, through the intercession of the blessed Virgin and all Thy Saints, obtain of Thy goodness and clemency, pardon for all their sins.Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
AnaStpaul 