To forgive and to forgive repeatedly
September 13, 2026 – Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Sirach 27:30 – 28:7; Psalm 103, R. The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and rich in compassion.; Romans 14:7-9; Gospel – Matthew 18: 21-35
Let’s begin our reflection this Sunday on mercy and forgiveness with a very personal story about my father. My father was the eldest of four sons. Modesty aside, he was a brilliant lawyer like my grandfather, with whom he also shared a passion for racehorses. You can imagine how he was my grandfather’s favorite.
However—this always makes things interesting—he was the black sheep of the family. Of course, my grandfather always fended for him. And my uncles would constantly complain to my grandmother and, at times, to my grandfather.
My grandmother used to tell me how my father broke my grandfather’s heart—most especially when my father’s shenanigans dashed my grandfather’s dreams for him to do graduate studies abroad and work his way up into government service like my grandfather.
Meanwhile, my uncles told us after my grandfather’s death that whenever they complained to my grandfather about how he—time and time again—covered for my father, his response was: “You will understand why when you have your own children.”
Reading this Sunday’s Gospel, I could not help but recall this story which happened 52 years ago. “How often must I forgive?”
Lessons on forgiveness
These are the first two points for our reflection: not just how often do we forgive, but how do we forgive?
My grandfather gave us the “clue.” First, to forgive repeatedly. Peter’s point of forgiving seven times seemed fair and generous, considering how difficult it is to forgive one who truly offended us. But the Lord raises the bar—77 times. In the end, God’s forgiveness cannot be quantified. The Father’s forgiveness, mercy, and love are limitless.
Our ability to imitate God’s repeated forgiveness can be made possible and nurtured by how he forgives. Just like my grandfather’s forgiveness, it is unconditional. We saw this in the parable. The master’s forgiveness was unconditional, giving the servant a clean slate.
The forgiveness of the master was the fruit of compassion and mercy. Thus, forgiveness is always a very personal act towards the other who offended you. This is how we are to forgive.
Forgiveness through personal love
Jesus won our forgiveness through his personal love for us that resulted in the one saving act of dying on the Cross that forgave our sins yesterday, today, and forever. As St. Paul wrote, “He loved me, and he gave himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
And that means forgiving repeatedly, unconditionally, and with a self-giving, self-sacrificing love like Jesus on the Cross.
Or, as my grandmother told me often, my father broke my grandfather’s heart, yet he repeatedly and unconditionally forgave him.
To be forgiven is to forgive
The third point for our reflection might be the most difficult act. To be forgiven is to forgive. The proof that one is forgiven is when one can forgive. This is aligned with the reality that grace is always available, but we must ask for it and open our hearts to grace for it to have an effect in our lives.
Forgiveness is something we seek and long for, and when we accept the grace of forgiveness, it leads us to be forgiving.
To forgive repeatedly is not a sign of weakness but is the greatest power to transform others and our world—a world wounded and broken by sin and injustice. It’s why forgiveness, mercy, and love are our hope to heal a wounded and broken world.
