1. Is it harder for you to forgive someone else or to receive forgiveness from them? As the reading asks, “… can he seek pardon for his own sins?” If you or your ancestors are the ones who need forgiveness, is there some way you might apologize/make reparation for actions that happened in the past, such as slavery or the destruction of the environment?

2. When you want to “hug wrath and anger tight,” as the reading puts it, do you have ways, or people, or places that will help you calm down your anger?

Second Reading
Romans 14:7-9

1. Sometimes God asks people to do extraordinary things. But most of the time not. How do you live your ordinary life for the Lord? Can you find God there? If you did that regularly, would your life be, paradoxically, extraordinary?
 
2. God created all things in love, entered creation, and rescued us himself. He does not leave us alone in this world or the next. Does thinking in such a way help you know you are loved? And if you are a loving person, would you have time for things like holding grudges? Might you just want to “live for the Lord”?

Gospel
Matthew 18:21-35

1. Do you think God wants you to forgive your neighbor just for your neighbor’s sake, or for yours too? We know that we need unlimited forgiveness ourselves. God loves us so much he has forgiven all our sins. Should those thoughts help us forgive others?
 
2. According to Pope Francis’ understanding of the parable in the Gospel, forgiveness can take one of two routes: justice or mercy. Which one works all the time?

In the parable we find two different attitudes: God’s—represented by the king who forgives a lot, because God always forgives—and that of the man. In the divine attitude justice is pervaded with mercy, whereas the human attitude is limited to justice. Jesus exhorts us to open ourselves with courage to the strength of forgiveness, because in life not everything can be resolved with justice. We know this. There is a need for that merciful love, which is also at the basis of the Lord’s answer to Peter’s question, which precedes the parable. Peter’s question goes like this: “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him. …

How much suffering, how many wounds, how many wars could be avoided if forgiveness and mercy were the style of our life! … How many disunited families, who do not know how to forgive each other. How many brothers and sisters bear this resentment within. It is necessary to apply merciful love to all human relationships: between spouses, between parents and children, within our communities, in the Church and also in society and politics.

Moved with Compassion
Pope Francis Angelus 24th Sun, 2020