Catholic Identity

Sunday's Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35 

In this week's Gospel, Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who has hurt him. Jesus’ answer makes it clear that forgiveness is not something we count or limit. He then tells the parable of the unforgiving servant, reminding us that if we hope to receive mercy and forgiveness ourselves, we must also be willing to offer it to others.

From a school perspective, this is an important message. Every day, we work and learn alongside others, and sometimes we will make mistakes, say the wrong thing, become frustrated or hurt someone’s feelings. Forgiveness does not mean pretending that something did not happen or that poor choices do not have consequences. It means choosing not to hold onto anger, giving people the opportunity to make things right, and allowing relationships to be repaired.

As a school community, we want St Mary’s to be a place where people are given the chance to learn from their mistakes. Just as we expect students to keep trying when learning is difficult, we also need to give one another opportunities to grow in the way we treat others. Jesus challenges us not only to ask for forgiveness when we get things wrong, but also to have the courage and generosity to forgive others.

Today, we might ask ourselves: Is there someone I need to forgive? Is there someone I need to say sorry to? And when someone makes a mistake, am I helping them become better, or am I continuing to remind them of what they did wrong?

Jesus reminds us that forgiveness is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of strength, compassion and love.

Mr O's Gospel Quiz 

1. Who asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone?
2. How many times did Jesus tell Peter to forgive?
3. What did the king do when the servant could not pay his debt?
4. Did the servant forgive the man who owed him money?
5. What happened to the unforgiving servant at the end of the parable?

CatholicCare:

Did you know that CatholicCare Bendigo offers the following services:

Workshops; Counselling; Family Services; Regional Parenting Services; Parenting Orders Program; Relationship Education; Family Dispute Resolution; Homes First; Property Dispute Resolution; and Youth Justice.