Forget the former things... – Isaiah 43:18

I never understood the statement, “Forgive and forget,” for the longest time. Because in my mind, I can still remember the painful events of the past. And if I can still remember, then I haven’t forgiven. I thought that forgetting happens in the mind, and forgiveness happens in the heart. Until somebody told me that forgiveness is a decision. That hit me hard. Forgiveness is not a feeling. You don’t forgive just because you feel it. You don’t forgive as a precondition. You don’t forgive to expect gratitude in return. You forgive because you simply decide to forgive.

If forgiveness is a decision, that means forgiveness happens in the mind. Forgiveness is a decision never to bring back the events of the past.

Forgetting happens in the heart. When you choose to love despite the pain that the memories bring, you choose to “forget” the hurt because you’d rather love.

Friends, if you’ve confessed your sins, God has forgiven and forgotten them. Remember not the events of the past. Forgive yourself too. Boggs Burbos (boggsburbos@yahoo.com)

Reflect: Are there some people you can’t forgive yet? It may be time to forget. Pray for those people.

Thank You, Father, for forgiving my sins as I accept Jesus’ forgiveness through the cross. Grant that I may forgive others, too, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

St. John Baptist de la Salle, priest, pray for us.

Jesus has the power to bring a desert to life. He can also enliven and transform your life. The question is, are you willing to change and grow in holiness? Are you willing to die to yourself and let Christ live in you?

Isaiah 43:16-21

16 Thus says the Lord, who opens a way in the sea and a path in the mighty waters, 17 who leads out chariots and horsemen, a powerful army, till they lie prostrate together, never to rise, snuffed out and quenched like a wick. 18 Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; 19 see, I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers. 20 Wild beasts honor me, jackals and ostriches, for I put water in the desert and rivers in the wasteland for my chosen people to drink, 21 the people whom I formed for myself, that they might announce my praise.

R: The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.

1 When the Lord brought back the captives of Zion, we were like men dreaming. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with rejoicing. (R) Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad indeed. (R) 4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the torrents in the southern desert. 5 Those that sow in tears shall reap rejoicing. (R) 6 Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown, they shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves. (R)  

Jesus, who is alive in us, is the only eternal value that we have. Paul realized this after many years of ministry. The only thing that matters is the Lord’s transformative work in us. Let us cooperate with the Spirit’s work of evangelization.

Philippians 3:8-14

8 Brothers and sisters: I consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own based on the law but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God, depending on faith 10 to know him and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death, 11 if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 It is not that I have already taken hold of it or have already attained perfect maturity, but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it, since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus 

Hypocrisy is saying one thing but doing another. It is unforgiveable because it implies doing a wrong act and denying responsibility for such an act. Let us be humble, live in the truth, and admit the wrong we’ve done. Humility and disinterestedness toward one’s self will help us hear God’s Word, and fulfill the demands of relationships with others.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart; for I am gracious and merciful.

John 8:1-11

1 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. 4 They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. 7 But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. 10 Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

think: “Practice what you preach or change your speech.” – picturequotes.com

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T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST 

Read the Bible in one year - Exodus 25-27   

  

START AGAIN 

Once I was approached by a parishioner who told me how much she liked my homily because it challenged everyone to always put a smile on their faces. But after acknowledging that, she immediately told me that I should be the very first one to practice it. She said, “Because as I see it, Father, I think you’re the one who needs it (to smile) the most! So go and try practicing it again!” It was a humiliating moment, but I knew that she only wanted me to be a better person. Thus, she challenged me to start again.

This is what Jesus is telling us today—to start again. To the woman caught in adultery, Jesus tells her to go and sin no more. She had no excuses. People saw her in that state of sin, which was punishable in the eyes of the community. But Jesus, in His mercy and love, gave her another chance and asked her to begin again with a better life than before. This was the same message Jesus gave to the accusers of the adulterous woman. He showed them what being compassionate meant. He made them realize how overwhelming the love of God can be. This should make them realize how they can change. Thus, for the Pharisees, scribes, and elders of the community, He offered new beginnings. He offers the same to us today—to start again as renewed persons of God.

There will always be second chances. There will always be unending hope. There will always be new beginnings. All of this will happen in front of a God who is bigger than all our failures and sins—for He is a God who allows us to start again and again. Fr. Joel Victorino

------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS -------

Do you start all over again whenever you are confronted by weaknesses, failures, and sinfulness? Why? Why not?

Thank You, Lord, for second chances. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ______________________________