In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us two powerful lessons: the responsibility we have in our actions toward others and the boundless power of forgiveness rooted in faith. His words remind us of the profound impact our choices can have on those around us, especially the “little ones,” those who may be vulnerable or easily influenced. We live in a world filled with negativity, stumbling blocks, and temptations, yet Jesus warns us to be cautious not only of sin but of leading others into it. He uses the image of a millstone—an impossibly heavy weight around the neck—to emphasize the gravity of causing another to fall. This vivid warning is a call to each of us to be vigilant about the example we set and the way we influence others, especially those who look up to us.

This passage also calls us to reflect on forgiveness, a topic that resonates deeply in our personal lives and our communities. Recently, a devout woman shared a personal struggle that speaks to this very challenge. She came to me and said, “Father, we have issues with our son and his family. We don’t talk. For what happened, I can and have already forgiven him. But I can’t forget.” I replied, “Everyone, no matter how good or bad we are, goes through transformations. We change all the time for better or for worse. What if your child comes to you one day and says he is sorry for what he has done? What is the point of holding on to your grudges? Does it help him? Does it help you? Why do you want to hold on to the memories, especially when you say you have already forgiven?”

Jesus doesn’t offer an easy forgiveness; he offers a radical one. He speaks of forgiving not just once, but repeatedly—even if a person wrongs us multiple times in the same day. The instruction to forgive “seven times” signifies completeness and abundance, challenging us to forgive with a limitless heart. This is not an act of weakness but one of immense strength and compassion. Forgiveness, as Jesus teaches, is not about keeping score or setting limits; it is about freeing ourselves, allowing reconciliation to heal both the forgiver and the forgiven, and creating space for others to grow, change, and even find their way back to us. This openness requires faith—faith in others’ potential to transform and faith in our own ability to welcome them back.

Jesus reassures his disciples, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed….” Even the smallest measure of faith, he tells us, holds power beyond our imagining. It is enough to help us overcome grudges, embrace forgiveness, and trust in the possibilities of grace. As the disciples did, therefore, let us ask the Lord to increase our faith, so that we may be empowered to forgive, to influence others with love and mercy, and to face life’s challenges with a heart open to transformation.