“How often shall I forgive?”

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an excerpt from today’s reflection by Don Schwager:

Paul the Apostle tells us that “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). There is no way we could repay God the debt we owed him because of our sins and offenses. Only his mercy and pardon could free us from such a debt. There is no offense our neighbor can do to us that can compare with our debt to God!  If God has forgiven each of us our debt, which was very great, we, too must forgive others the debt they owe us. Through Jesus’ atoning sacrifice for our sins on the cross, we have been forgiven a debt beyond all reckoning. It cost God his very own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to ransom us with the price of his blood. Jesus paid the price for us and won for us pardon for our sins and freedom from slavery to our unruly desires and sinful habits. God in his mercy offers us the grace and help of his Holy Spirit so we can love as he loves, pardon as he pardons, and treat others with the same mercy and kindness which he has shown to us. God has made his peace with us.  Have you made your peace with God? If we understand God’s love and accept it, than we have no other choice but to be merciful towards others as our heavenly Father is merciful towards us. Are you a peacemaker?

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury let me sow pardon. Where there is doubt let me sow faith.  Where there is despair let me give hope. Where there is darkness let me give light. Where there is sadness let me give joy.”  (Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi)

for the full reflection visit : Daily Reading and Meditation