Dear Parish Family,

   This Sunday marks the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The first reading from Sirach (27:30 – 28:9) and the Gospel reading from Matthew (18:21-35) both speak to us of the need for forgiveness. More specifically, we cannot ask the Lord to forgive us if we are unwilling to forgive others.

   The Responsorial Psalm (103: 1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12) is, “The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.” It is a beautiful hymn of praise to Almighty God that celebrates the kindness and the mercy of God. As the inspired word of God, the Psalms give expression to the relationship between God and His people and the splendor of God’s creation.
Throughout salvation history, God has always been faithful to His people. The
people have not always been faithful to God. History and our own life
experience has shown this to be true.

   Nevertheless, God did not and does not abandon His people. As St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans (14:7-9), “For this is why Christ died and came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.” Through His life, death, resurrection and ascension, Our Blessed Lord reconciled humanity to God the Father. The Holy Spirit sustains the Church and gives us the grace to be Christ’s followers in a world so often hostile to the Gospel message.

   Forgiveness is not always easy. In fact, it is quite often very difficult and even impossible by our own power. Still, it is by no means impossible with the grace of God at work in us. Are we having a difficult time forgiving another person? Let’s take it to prayer again and again. Let’s think of Jesus on the cross asking the Father to forgive His executioners. The Lord can open doors where no open doors seem to be in sight. Let’s pray for the grace to be instruments of peace and reconciliation in the hands of the Prince of Peace.

God bless you.

Fr. Dan Redmond