How often do we hold on to grudges? How long do we hold on to grudges? As we look around our world we hear of fights and battles that go back many generations, hundreds of years! Sirach reminds us that we hold on to such at our own peril. He tells us to “Remember your last days,” and to, “set enmity aside and cease from sin!” Do we forget that to hold grudges can be a sinful act?
The Gospel message today reminds us that mercy is an essential ingredient if we are to be in a healthy relationship with God. We need to remember prudence as we hear Jesus remind us of the need to forgive seventy-seven times. Forgiveness is essential but we also have the obligation to love ourselves too, which may mean avoiding whomever it is that is causing the problem for which forgiveness is needed. We are called to love others, but we are also called to respect ourselves. Nothing says we should disregard ourselves to the extent of allowing abuse.
Forgiveness is essential if we are to be forgiven. Foolish “love” on our part is not an acceptable excuse for allowing and evil to continue if we can avoid it.
Countenance of God 