Listen

The Lord works righteousness; does justice for all who are oppressed. God made his ways known to Moses; made his deeds known to the Israelites. The Lord is compassionate and merciful, very patient, and full of faithful love. God won’t always play the judge; he won’t be angry forever. He doesn’t deal with us according to our sin or repay us according to our wrongdoing, because as high as heaven is above the earth, that’s how large God’s faithful love is for those who honor him.
As far as east is from west—that’s how far God has removed our sin from us. Like a parent feels compassion for their children—that’s how the Lord feels compassion for those who honor him.

Psalm 103:6–13

Think

If we were to judge based on our humanity, none of us would be immune to making mistakes. Because it is precisely our humanity that leads us to make mistakes—and sometimes to hurt those we love the most. Reconciliation is often difficult for us. We think and think, ruminating like a cow that chews and chews without swallowing. We struggle to process things, put off apologizing, avoid dialogue, and focus on the faults rather than the person—or even ourselves.

We even struggle to be self-compassionate. We’re hard on others and hard on ourselves. But we can learn. We can take it one step at a time, guided by the most authentic model of justice: our example, Jesus of Nazareth. We can trust that, with willing hearts, it will be easier to untangle the knots and open our hearts to justice and forgiveness.

Karla Sánchez Rivera

Question to Ponder:

What must you do first in order to forgive someone or ask for forgiveness?

Pray

Prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi: “Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, forgiveness; where there is discord, unity; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may seek not to be consoled, but to console; not to be understood, but to understand; not to be loved, but to love. For it is in giving that we receive; in forgiving that we are forgiven; and in dying that we are born to eternal life.” Amen.

Go

Reflect on your own life: What role do you play? You’re invited to forgive and be forgiven.