Thursday, August 12, 2021-Nineteenth Week of Ordinary Time-For your servant, let your face shine: teach me your commandments-Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 18, 21 — 19, 1

The teaching of Christ is centered on mercy, so that we can feel the magnitude of infinite love. He who loves, is willing to forgive. It is a sign of love, as God loves us: there is no limit but he forgives the faults of those who ask his forgiveness. Mercy, however, breeds mercy and is not something that stays only for oneself. This is a continuation of Christ's words about the parable he told, in the Gospel we have just heard: that we may be able to have compassion, and to show kindness and love to those who have wronged us. We are all sinners, unworthy before God, and in need of His mercy and need to forgive one another. But the grace received in our confession is both a life, and we regulate our relationship with each other. God will repay us for what we do to others.

Ask God to help and guide us not to dwell in sin and wickedness, and may we never forget that it is God’s mercy that makes us also merciful to our friends.