IN
THIS ISSUE:
Cover
Page
by Bro.
Pete Lapid
The
Father Speaks
By Fr.
Binzler, SJ
Special
Feature
By
Pinky Torres
Our
Faith
By Fr.
KJ Veeger, MSC
Place
of Refuge
By
Philip Yuson
Inspirations
By
Desomnd D'Souza
Genesis
Happenings
By
Sansu Garin
Special
Feature
By Fr.
Jojo San Juan, SDB
Surabaya
Corner
By
Ramon Martillano
Saint
for the Month
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- Catholic
Links
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 - PROFILE
OF THE
- GENESIS
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
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- COVER
STORY
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  -
- Forgive
us our debts as we forgive
those who are in debt to us” (Matthew 6:12). This
is part of the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples and is
teaching us.
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- He
is also asking us to put into practice our prayer when He says
further in Matthew 6:14-15: “If you forgive others their wrongs,
your Father in Heaven will also forgive yours. If you do not forgive
others, then your Father will not forgive you either”.
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- Jesus
Himself “walked His talk.” He set an example to all of us. He
forgave the sins of many during His time on earth. He forgave and
prayed for those who mocked Him, insulted Him, hit Him and crucified
Him even at the point of death. He said “Father, forgive them for
they do not know they do”.
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- Most
of us find it easy to say sorry and ask for forgiveness from other
people. But why do we find it soooo... difficult to forgive those
who have hurt us? (And I am talking from my past experience here.)
Why do we love keeping and nurturing that anger or resentment in our
hearts? Why do we nourish and enjoy that feeling of being angry with
someone? So that we can lash back at him or her? So that we can
broadcast to the whole world how bad that person is and how much we
hate him or her? So that our friends will sympathize with us and
also speak ill about that person (and therefore cause them to sin as
well?)
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- Why
do we allow our hatred or irritation to spoil our day and perhaps
even spoil the day of those around us in the office or in our homes?
Why allow it take the joy away from our hearts? Why allow it to take
over our lives instead of us taking control over it? Why can we not
simply say to that person “I forgive you!”? No buts and no ifs.
And then be free from the bondage of anger and unforgiveness which
is ruining our life.
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- What
if he or she commits that same mistake again? Should I forgive him
or her again? Exactly the same question Peter asked Jesus in Matthew
18:21-22: "Lord, how many times must I forgive the offenses of
my brother? Seven times?” Jesus answered “No, not seven times,
but seventy-seven times seven.” In other words, do not count! As
long as your brother needs forgiveness, you should give it to him.
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- St.
Paul also exhorts us in Ephesians 4:32: “Be good and
understanding, mutually forgiving one another as God forgave you in
Christ.” God has forgiven us our sins. In fact, Jesus died because
of our sins. Do we not then ought to forgive the sins of our
brethren? How can we say, “I love you Jesus” and yet hate our
brother?
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- Lent
is a time to repent of our sins and for conversion. However, it is
also a time for forgiveness. There can be no true repentance or
conversion if we do not forgive others their sin as God has forgiven
ours.
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- As we reflect and ask for mercy and
forgiveness from the Lord for our many sins during this Lent, let us
also spend some time think of those people who have hurt us and whom
we have not forgiven yet. Let us ask for the grace from the Lord to
be able to forgive them from our heart. So that our celebration of
the coming Easter will be truly a joyful one.
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