Let’s be honest

Peter asks Jesus, ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?

Jesus says, no, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times’ (Matthew 18).

We are asked to forgive, but let’s be honest:

It is not in our power not to feel or to forget an offense, but the heart that offers itself to the Holy Spirit turns injury into compassion and purifies the memory in transforming the hurt into intercession (CCC 2843).

‘Come Holy Spirit,’ we pray, ‘turn injury into compassion, hurt into intercession.’

Quite extraordinary.

Amen.