SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN

“Who is this Man Who utters blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” –Luke 5:21

Jesus always has forgiveness on His mind. The roof literally falls in, but Jesus responds: “My friend, your sins are forgiven you” (Lk 5:20). A man lay before Him paralyzed and Jesus says: “The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Lk 5:24). The apostles ask Jesus to teach them to pray, and Jesus replies: “Forgive us the wrong we have done as we forgive those who wrong us” (Mt 6:12). Even while hanging on the cross, among His last words Jesus kept saying: “Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing” (Lk 23:34).

“You can depend on this as worthy of full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tm 1:15). “I tell you, there will likewise be more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent” (Lk 15:7).

Jesus “is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29). He is preoccupied with the forgiveness of sin. If we ask Jesus about our Christmas presents, He’ll offer to forgive our sins. If we complain about our troubles, He’ll call us to Confession. If we blame our spouse for something, Jesus will talk to us about the plank in our own eye (Mt 7:3). When Jesus thinks of Christmas, He thinks of the forgiveness of sins through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Go to Confession. Give Jesus the Christmas present of your repentance.

PRAYER: Jesus, baptize me in repentance. Send the Spirit to search my heart. May I repent on the deepest level.
PROMISE: “They will meet with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.” –Is 35:10
PRAISE: As a young adult, St. Ambrose was a fair and just politician in Milan, Italy. He endeared himself to the citizens. In fact, those same citizens “forcibly” acclaimed Ambrose their new bishop! He was ordained on December 7 and died on Holy Saturday.