Homily: July 21, 2026, Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Forgiveness)

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 In today's Gospel, Jesus says, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” 

These words invite us to ask an important question: What is the will of our heavenly Father for us?

Jesus gives the answer in other passages of the Gospel. He says, “Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect,” and “Be holy, for your heavenly Father is holy.”

God's will is not simply that we avoid sin, but more that we become holy. The Christian life is not merely about avoiding evil; it is really about growing in virtue and becoming more like our heavenly Father each day, in what we think, say and do.

Today's readings point us to one of the most difficult yet most beautiful virtues of Christian discipleship - forgiveness.

In the first reading we heard, “Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin... who does not persist in anger forever.” In the Responsorial Psalm we prayed, “You have forgiven the guilt of your people; you have covered all their sins. You have withdrawn all your wrath.”

This is who God is, what He thinks, says and does, for His beloved people. He delights not in punishment but in mercy. He loves and forgives.

And this is what God desires us to be. To do the will of the Father is to become like the Father, loving and forgiving.

Have you ever forgiven?

You probably have been hurt badly. If you have been holding on to the hurt, the anger, the bitterness for a long time, try forgiveness. The moment you decide to forgive totally and completely, the hurt disappears. If you don’t trust me, you can trust Jesus, trust God.

Forgiveness is precisely what our heavenly Father’s will is for us. Forgiveness is not about letting the ‘culprit’ go free, but it is about letting the hurt go, and us be free.

If God who is above us, can forgive, why can’t we, who are equal, not forgive one another?

Forgiving is not a sign of weakness; it comes from strength, driven by divine grace, it is a sign that we belong to God. We become like Him, as children would resemble their parents. We are true members of God's family, His sons and daughters, Jesus’ brothers and sisters.

Think. Is there someone I need to forgive?

Jesus, forgive me my iniquities and wash me clean of my sins. Help me become holy as our heavenly Father is holy. Help me forgive.

Amen.

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Homily: October27, 2026, Tuesday of the Thirtieth week in Ordinary Time (Kingdom of God)

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