Forgiveness, 9th Mark of Charity – Feb 01 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN on Feb 01, 2022, on the 9th Mark of Charity, love is not resentful, it is forgiving, as he continues his series on the Marks of Charity (1 Corinthians 13:5)

Notes:

0:00 - Intro

0:20 - What is forgiveness?

Love does not dwell on what has been done to us, does not store up grievances

Instead, it lets go and cancels, forgives debts and sins.

Even if it seems justified, resentfulness reduces our virtues and increases our vices, our hearts shrink

God has forgiven us so let's do the same

God wants us to forgive so to purposefully refuse is a sin.

God wants us to live in peace with others

Overcome evil with good. God has given us the ministry of reconciliation, let's do it

4:42 - 12 Obstacles to forgiveness:

1 No modeling from parents, never saw it before
2 Deny offense occurred, don't want to
3 fear to hold others accountable
4 Not feeling we can forgive ourselves
5 Not being forgiven for our own past offenses
6 God will not forgive us
7 God knows my reasons
8 Forgives is excusing bad behavior

9 he is not sorry so I won't forgive

10 wanting to gain power by hanging on to a grievance

11 Desire for revenge

12 Harboring a prideful, hardened heart

All this chains us to bitterness

It is natural to resent and to forgive is to let them off the hook, but this set us up to be higher judges than God.

Need to believe God has forgiven us

To forgive does not mean we are not interested in justice but to leave it with God

8:45 - How do I know that I have forgiven?

Do I still have vengeful, hateful thoughts? If not, then we have forgiven

It does not mean forgetting, but forgiving each time we remember.

9:50 How do we Forgive:

Pray for a forgiving heart and those who offend and for ourselves, put ourselves in other's shoes, bring our thoughts of vengeance to god by acknowledging them asking  for forgiveness, Follow Christ to the cross, don't rehearse wrongs, have prudent boundaries to those who hurt us, focus on the needs of healing of others instead of their faults, turn to God to supply all our needs, but let go of resentment

11:29 - Summary, Conclusion

More from this series, Marks of Charity:
YouTube PlayList: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLejh_e0-LN4zbDleFGSzczRhHHIz6_883
On AirMaria: https://airmaria.com/tag/marks-of-charity/

Marks of Charity are from First Corinthians Chapt 13 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/13

Ave Maria!

Mass: Tuesday 4th Week of Ordinary Time - Wkdy
Readings: - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/020122.cfm
1st: 2sa 18:9-10, 14, 24-25, 30-19:3
Resp: psa 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Gsp: mar 5:21-43

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1584

Also on Facebook: https://fb.watch/aV5D-fzKhp/
and YouTube: https://youtu.be/bKVTu1lpwfk