LENT:
A TIME NOT ONLY TO BE FORGIVEN BUT ALSO TO FORGIVE.

As the season of Lent advances, we grow in our desire to take advantage of this time to receive God’s forgiveness through the Sacrament of Confession (see http://wp.me/p6k7Mv-24V ) and be reconciled with Him. Let us thank God who is kind and merciful, always ready to forgive us.

Nevertheless, we should not only aspire to be forgiven by God.
Rather, WE MUST ALSO IMITATE GOD’S MERCY AND KINDNESS IN FORGIVING OTHERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE DONE US GREAT HARM AND RECONCILING OURSELVES WITH THEM.

As Our Lord Himself said:

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Mt 6:14-15).”

If God, who is thrice-holy, has mercy on the sinner, how much more we ought to forgive others, we who are wretched sinners. God loves us in spite of our defects, and forgives us.  Are we also ready and willing to do the same to those around us? We should be for if not, as Jesus said, will never be forgiven.

A thought to ponder upon then:

“All right: that person has behaved badly towards you. But, haven’t you behaved worse towards God?” (St. Josemaria Escrivá, The Way, 686).

Let us ask the intercession of Our Lady and St. Joseph so that with their help, God will grant us the kind and merciful heart to forgive those who have offended us during this season of Lent.

Cordially inviting you to like and follow our FB page, http://www.facebook.com/Catholicsstrivingforholiness so we could help more people in their Catholic faith and life. Thanks and God bless! Fr. Rolly Arjonillo

ORIGINAL PHOTO CREDIT: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (painter), El retorno del hijo pródigo, in https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Return_of_the_Prodigal_Son_1667-1670_Murillo.jpg