A Jesuit Catholic University
in Omaha, Nebraska, since 1878

[491] Titus 1:1-9 Ps 24:1b-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 Luke 17:1-6

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

“And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him.” –Luke 17:4

Forgiveness was something I struggled with a lot when I was younger. As a child my older sister and I fought a lot. Almost every time we fought, my sister would apologize to me first. She really didn’t like being in fights with people, because she knew that no matter what we were fighting about, it wasn’t worth it to be mad at each other; no matter how big the fight, she still loved me and wanted me to know that. I was always amazed at how easily my sister could say sorry, or if I said sorry, how easily she could forgive me.

My sister and I are nearly three years apart in age, and we have very different personalities. I am a lot more stubborn than she is, so whenever we would fight, until I knew that she understood where I was coming from, or until I got my point across to her, I was unable to accept her apology. One thing that always bothered me was that she would do something that I didn’t like, and I would tell her that I didn’t like it. She would apologize and I’d accept her apology, but then she would do that same thing that bothered me again. After she did it multiple times, a part of me thought well this stinks nothing is even changing. It was then that I really found myself struggling with being able to forgive her. I thought why should I forgive you so that you can feel better about what you did when I know forgiving you isn’t going to change how you act in the future?

Little did I realize then that trying to change how someone acts in the future, or trying to get someone to see how they are hurting me, has nothing to do with forgiveness. The World English Dictionary defines “forgive” as to free from the obligation of. Forgiveness grants the person we are forgiving freedom. It grants them the freedom that they were born with that is a part of their human dignity. Forgiveness is not something that should be based off of what a person will do for us in the future. Rather, forgiveness is a gift that should be given to everyone, and that everyone should receive as part of their dignity.

Thankfully, I have grown up in the last few years, and even though sometimes it can be hard to forgive people, saying the “Our Father” every week helps me to be aware of God’s call to forgive anyone who asks for a pardon. Because when it comes down to it, it really isn’t worth it to hold an obligation over someone’s head. Forgive, and let that person be freed.