A few months ago, I was surprised by a weird emotion I had. I felt good when someone who hurt me in the past was struggling with something in his life. 

After reflecting more on my feelings, I realized that I felt good about this person’s misery because I wanted vengeance— even if I believed that I had already forgiven this person.

The desire for vengeance in my heart was an indicator that something was wrong inside. Forgiving that friend who hurt me once was not enough to fully heal me. In reality, it is a continuous practice of choosing to forgive until I am completely healed.

The grace we receive to forgive others comes from the Lord, who continuously forgives us for our sins and doesn’t hold a grudge against us. 

So if you have difficulty forgiving a person who hurt you, ask God to help you forgive him or her. 

Every day. 

Until you are fully healed.

JPaul Hernandez (jpaulmh@yahoo.com)

reflect

Why are you having difficulty forgiving the person who hurt you?

Jesus, thank You for forgiving my sins. Please help me forgive the people who have hurt me as well. Amen.

Saint Aengus, pray for us.

God’s Word is powerful. Sometimes, it takes years before we experience the full effectiveness of His Word. But we can trust that if God speaks to us, He will definitely follow it through. As disciples of Jesus, let us imitate His faithfulness. Let us grow in integrity and commitment so that when we make promises to others, we will be faithful to fulfill them.

¹⁰ Thus says the Lord: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats, ¹¹ so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it. 

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19

R: From all their distress God rescues the just.

⁴ Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. ⁵ I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R) ⁶ Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. ⁷ When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R) ¹⁶ The Lord has eyes for the just, and ears for their cry. ¹⁷ The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. (R) ¹⁸ When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. ¹⁹ The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. (R)  

Gospel | Matthew 6:7-15

The Lord’s Prayer that Jesus teaches His disciples covers all the aspects of a disciple’s life. We can use this cover-all prayer when we do not know what to pray, especially when someone asks us to pray for them. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to apply the Lord’s Prayer to that person’s life. 

Gospel Acclamation

One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

⁷ Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ⁹ “This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, ¹⁰ thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread; ¹² and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; ¹³ and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. ¹⁴ “If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read GENESIS 1 - 3 today.

At the height of the pandemic from 2020 to 2021, four out of ten adults exhibited fear, the top negative emotion, according to a Gallup survey. While the pandemic brought fear to the fore, it has always been there and has paralyzed many people to inaction. You’d rather suffer than confront an unreasonable and vengeful backstabber colleague. You’d rather suppress your talents than possibly fail while performing. You’d rather wallow in fear than do something and simply allow fate, instead of faith, to decide for you.

As an emotion, fear has benefits when managed well. It warns us against things than endanger us. It alerts us from possible self-destruction. When untamed, fear can take control of our lives. Our readings today challenge us to take stock of our fears and put them in their rightful place. How about spending some quiet time for prayer, the way it is being taught in the Gospel today? 

First, our Father knows best. He reigns both in heaven and on earth. Our worries become small relative to the greatness of our Father. No place, no one, and nothing can ever be beyond His reign, including our fears.

Second, live in the present and let tomorrow take care of itself. Focus on our daily bread—that which we need (not want) for today: perhaps strength to carry out a difficult task, inspiration to love an unlovable family member, time to rest and gather oneself to regain God’s perspective? Pray that the Father gives you your daily bread.

Third, relax. Our Father is in control. Nothing ends until it has accomplished the mission of the Father. Nothing begins unless the Father allows it. The Father will never take you where His grace cannot keep you. Fr. Bros Flores, SJ

reflection question

What are your fears? 

Lord Jesus, when fear gets the better of me, remind me that with our Father, the Source of Love Himself, there is no fear. Only faith. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _____________________________________