Friday, October 24, 2025
Feast of Saint Anthony Claret
My sisters and brothers in the Lord,
Welcome to week forty-three of BMW, Be My Witnesses. This week we will be wrapping up another cycle of being witnesses to the Lord. Let us close out this cycle by means of another spiritual work of mercy.
Mission: Forgive Injuries
After cursing a fruitless fig tree, Jesus added this direction to his disciples, “When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions” (Mark 11:25).
This is what should have been the experience of the man in a parable told by Jesus. A servant owed an exorbitant amount of money to the king, something like owing a trillion dollars. What Jesus was getting at is that we all owe God such a great debt that there is no way under the sun that we can ever repay it; there is no way we can ever make up for our sins to God. Instead, God forgives us the whole debt.
We are shocked when we then hear that this forgiven man does not forgive another servant who owed him about $100. Jesus wants us to be shocked. Since God forgives an unforgivable debt, we should easily forgive such small debts of our neighbors (Matthew 18:21-35).
These words of Ben Sirach (28:2), “Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven”—remind us of the prayer which Jesus taught us to pray: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Jesus taught us to ask God not to hear our cry for mercy unless we show mercy to our neighbors.
I believe it is quite easy for all of us to recognize that we are sinners, and to ask God, “Have mercy on me, forgive me.” And we do this with great hope because we know that Jesus came and died for us in order to free us from these sins. God wants to forgive us, and we know that. God wants to free us because he loves us. So, we quite confidently beg for mercy.
But Jesus knew that God’s mercy and forgiveness will not really penetrate our hard hearts and our lives will never really change until we show that same mercy to others. If we cannot be softened toward others who have hurt us, then we may mouth to God that we are sorry for our sins, but our hearts will never really be sorry.
This is the great treasure of forgiving others. It gives us freedom. Holding a grudge harms us, imprisons us, makes us bitter. Besides being a work of mercy to others, this act is a work of mercy to ourselves. That is why Jesus ends his story of the wicked servant calling upon us to forgive each other from our hearts (Matthew 18:35). We are actually to wish the good of the other and to pray for that person.
My Weekly Challenge
For this week’s challenge, share with your witness partner or with your small group an account of someone who has hurt you. Next, pray a prayer of forgiveness for that person and pray for the good of that person. If you are so moved, you may find a means of conveying a sign of that forgiveness as well.
Until next week, may God Bless you.
+ Earl Boyea
Bishop of Lansing
P.S. Here is a video version of this week's Be My Witnesses. Please do share with friends and family. Thank you.