Saturday, March 7th
To complete today's challenge, find time to prayerfully read through the reflections below, attend a recovery meeting, and share what's on your heart and mind on today's discussion board.
REFLECT
Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel reading, Peter poses a question to Jesus about forgiveness: How many times do we need to forgive others? Jesus answers him with a figure of speech (“seventy-seven times”), meaning we are to forgive always (Matthew 18:22). He supports the need to forgive with the parable of the man who is forgiven of a large debt but does not forgive his brother of a smaller debt. The first man, in the end, is punished for not being as merciful as the one who forgave his larger debt. As hard as it seems at times—because let’s face it, forgiveness is a hard thing to do—Jesus wants us to have the same capacity for forgiving our brothers and sisters that He and the Father have. While he knows we are not perfect, He makes the point that if we want to be forgiven by God then we need to forgive others from our hearts.
In our recovery, or even before our days in recovery, how many times did we ask for forgiveness? From our spouse? Our children? Our friends? Our co-workers? The list could go on and on, but there have probably been a number of times we needed forgiveness. There were probably a number of times we needed not only God’s forgiveness but the forgiveness of others, namely our loved ones. There may have also been times when we needed to forgive so we could move on and no longer harbor a grudge that was keeping us from being free. God always provides forgiveness on His end when we ask Him, although we sometimes need to ask for it from others. But it is much easier to receive it when we also give it freely ourselves.
Thinking about the times we needed and received forgiveness helps us remember to forgive others when they need our love and compassion. Recalling that we have been in a similar situation, we can better forgive others as well as bring our brothers and sisters in recovery to our Lord. Let us focus on the times we have been forgiven and let us share that same Christ-like mercy with others. Let us forgive, as the Father has forgiven us.
Reflection Questions
- Consider times in your life when you have asked for forgiveness, whether during your amends process or otherwise. How did receiving forgiveness affect your recovery and faith?
- Is there someone in your life whom the Lord is asking you to forgive? If so, how might you do so—or start to do so—today?
Daily Mass Readings
First Reading: Ezekiel 12:1-12
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 78:56-57, 58-59, 61-62
Gospel: Matthew 18:21–19:1
Reflection by Jeff R.
Saints Pontian, Pope and Martyr and Hippolytus, Priest and Martyr
(d.235) — Pontian was born in Rome and elected the 18th Pope in 230. Hippolytus was a priest, possibly a bishop, who may have been a student of Saint Irenaeus. Some sources cite Hippolytus as a claimant to be bishop of Rome, making him an antipope, but he was reconciled with the Church under Pope Pontian. Both were arrested in a persecution aimed at Church leaders under Emperor Maximinus Thrax and sentenced to work the mines on the island of Sardinia, where they died as martyrs.
It would take the very rare and very disturbed individual to pursue heresy or cause schism simply for the hatred of truth. Disagreements arise when individuals seek some perceived happiness that may be in conflict with the truth. In recovery, we cannot take the risk of placing a perceived pleasure or fleeting happiness ahead of what is true. It took fortitude for Saint Hippolytus to reconcile with Saint Pontian and make a sort of amends. Are you being called to do the same today?
Saint Pontian and Saint Hippolytus, pray for us, that we can find reconciliation in pursuit of truth, and that we can have the fortitude to make a stand for what is true. Amen.
Reflection by Brad Farmer
Other Saints
Discuss
Share your thoughts and connect with others on this journey.
Log in to join the discussion.
I relate to both in my sinful ways. My sin is always before me. Tempting me, trying to keep me away from the truth, from the love of God.
I related to the younger son in that although I would binge drink, God my Father was always there to help me battle out of the binge and come to HIs loving embrace. I relate to the older son in that I would allow the devil to entice me into feelings of envy, judgement, resentment, etc. which would begin to disrupt my relationship with God and eventually go on another binge. Since my recovery and working the steps, I have completely accepted my past including a formal confession and absolution, so I live completely for God now.