The 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

“Lord, if my brother sins against me, how many times should I forgive him? Up to seven times?” As written in today’s Gospel, Jesus replied, “Not seven times, but seventy times seven.”

Through this Gospel passage, what Jesus is trying to say is, “It’s not about the number; let’s always forgive one another.” Jesus’ sole desire is for us to become people who forgive, not people who judge others’ mistakes.

Forgiveness is the first step toward liberation. When we forgive, we can free ourselves from emotions that bind our hearts, such as anger and resentment. But the next step is to forget. To forget does not mean erasing the memory, but rather letting go of the negative emotions associated with that event.

Forgetting leads to a happy life. Holding onto others’ mistakes and dwelling on them only prolongs your own suffering. But if you learn to forget, you can let go of that burden and live happily. What good comes from holding onto others’ mistakes forever?

Forgiving others is truly not an easy thing to do. Sometimes, the pain and disappointment run so deep that it’s hard to forget. But forgiveness isn’t for the other person’s sake—it’s to free ourselves from the bonds of anger and revenge. The purpose of forgiving one another is to regain peace and happiness, not to determine who is right or wrong.

Let’s embark on this week’s journey with the awareness that “We forgive others not because they deserve to be forgiven, but because we deserve to find peace.”