Mass 65. Counting forgiveness

Tuesday 10 March 2026

A rare weekday Mass, with a dozen or so others. On these occasions, I sit in the main part of the church, not hidden behind a pillar as I usually am on a Sunday, able only to see the Mass.

Today the reading was the parable of the unmerciful servant. A good opportunity to count how many times you’ve needed forgiveness lately.

Jesus tells Peter he should forgive, not seven times, but 77 times.

Canon P pointed out that the number of times we ask for forgiveness from God vastly outnumbers that. So in one way, Jesus was playing things down. We’re getting a good deal.

I thought about this from my own perspective, and crikey… how many times I would need this grace. I wondered if others sitting with me felt the same. These are not the sort of messages that fly over your head. They land gently on your shoulders and stay there.

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