Not forgiving is an ingratitude. How could we not forgive others, when God has forgiven us so much? Another way of putting it, scripture says this week, is that if we do not show others forgiveness, it cannot be shown us.

I teach 10-year-olds their catechism. It’s the hardest job in the world, or so it seems each week as I prepare to face the children. After a lifetime as an adult religious educator—a cakewalk by comparison—I feel thrown into the lion’s den as a parish volunteer.

At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?”

“Do you want to be right or do you want to be in relationship?” That was a question Catholic psychologist Sidney Callahan said a friend posed after an extended feud. It was a lesson in forgiveness. 

To be forgiven, we must forgive. We turn to God for the forgiveness we are to show to others.

The Sovereign Judge has marked for us the rule of his judgments in order that we may judge our offending brothers and sisters in the way we want to be judged by him.