The greatest and the richest gift anyone can give the other is forgiveness that brings healing to the one extends and the one receives. Reconciliation is the task that brought the Son of God unto the earth, who proclaimed the message of forgiveness to His followers, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Mt 5:44). He demonstrated His teaching at the extremest condition of hanging on the cross, “Jesus said, ‘Forgive them, Father! They don’t know what they are doing.’” (Lk 23:34). Imitating the Master’s act of perfect forgiveness, Stephen extended unimaginable forgiveness to those who were stoning him to death, “He knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord! Do not remember this sin against them!’” (Acts 7:60). It needs courage to do good to those who harm us, not knowing the noble self that God has kept in us. Let’s heal the world and those around us, by keep extending perfect forgiveness, for we are praying, “Forgive us the wrongs we have done, as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us” (Mt 6:12). May the healing mercy of God flow in and through all of us that the world may benefit from it. 

Abba, we are grateful for your perfect forgiveness. Let your Spirit help us pray for those who need our forgiveness, in Jesus’ name, Amen.