Seven

Just as I thought I had forgiven seven or seventy-seven times, I realise that I need to forgive once again. 

Holy Trinity (Unknown)

We are made in the image and likeness of God. 

What does that really mean?

Well, it means that God is asking us to be like Him.

Just as my children watch how I behave and imitate me either intentionally or unintentionally, so too should I be watching my God and imitating Him.

This is really the purpose of prayer and meditation on God.  We are called to reflect on God because the more we know Him the more we love Him and the more we wish to please Him through imitation of Him.  This is why Christ was born to suffer and die for our sins so that we could imitate Him.  God literally made Himself very small so that we could make ourselves a little bit big, by trying to be like Him in His goodness…

And the most notable and defining feature of our God that does not really exist elsewhere is that our God is merciful and forgives…  CK Chesterton once said that he chose to convert to Catholicism because of the Sacrament of Reconciliation – the Sacrament of Forgiveness…

And it is difficult to forgive.  And since the birth of sin human beings have struggled with forgiveness.  And Christ addressed this – even among the disciples…

“Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.’ Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. (Matthew 18:21-19:1).And I have been thinking about this today.  Just as I thought I had forgiven seven or seventy-seven times, I realise that I need to forgive once again.  After all, God has no limit to His forgiveness…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.