In today's Gospel reading at Mass from Matthew 18, Jesus told Peter to forgive his brother who sinned against him not just seven times, but seventy-seven times. I used to wonder if I should forgive an enemy who's unremorseful. The answer now is clearly yes. This teaching of the Lord is consistent with his teaching about judging not and loving your enemies. Holding a grudge against someone is like keeping poison in your heart ~ guess who's being poisoned. In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant that followed in the Gospel reading, Jesus made it clear that God would not forgive us if we did not forgive others for the same sin. If we want God to forgive us always, we have no choice but to forgive others always. After all, it's only what God, not any other human being, does to us that counts.
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