“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the mystery of God’s mercy and the call to extend that same mercy to others. Mercy is not only a beautiful word; it is a way of life. It is expressed through compassion, forgiveness, and kindness. In the first reading from the Book of Daniel, Azariah stands in the midst of the fire and prays with a humble and contrite heart. He does not pretend that the people are innocent. Instead, he honestly acknowledges their sins and pleads for God’s mercy. His prayer reveals something very important: when we recognize our weakness and turn to God sincerely, we discover that God’s heart is always open. God does not treat us according to our failures but according to His great mercy. That is why the psalmist in Psalm 25 repeats the beautiful prayer: “Remember your mercies, O Lord.” In the Gospel from Gospel of Matthew, Peter asks Jesus a practical question: “How many times must I forgive?” Perhaps Peter thinks he is being generous when he suggests seven times. But Jesus responds, “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” In other words, forgiveness in the Christian life has no limit. Jesus then tells the parable of the servant who was forgiven a huge debt but refused to forgive a much smaller one. This story shows both the difficulty and the simplicity of forgiveness. It is difficult because human wounds are real. When someone hurts us, our instinct is often to hold on to the pain or seek revenge. Yet forgiveness becomes simple when we remember how much God has forgiven us. When we truly bear witness to God’s mercy in our own lives, our hearts begin to change. We realize that we are all debtors before God, all in need of compassion. Mercy received must become mercy shared. If God has shown us compassion, we are called to show compassion. If God forgives us, we must also forgive. If God treats us with kindness, we must treat others the same way. Lent is a privileged time to return to the Lord with our whole heart. Perhaps there is someone we still struggle to forgive. Today’s Gospel reminds us that forgiveness is not just a command; it is the natural response of a heart that has experienced God’s mercy. When we remember how patient God has been with us, forgiveness slowly becomes possible. And in forgiving others, we become living witnesses of God’s mercy in the world.