Neither will your Father forgive your transgressions

20 JUNE (Mt 6,7-15)

Every sin has as its fruits fault and punishment. The fault is absolved through repentance, the request for forgiveness and the sacramental absolution. The punishment instead is expiated by our great true love to our neighbour. The first love to be given to our brothers is the forgiveness of their sins against God and against us. The forgiveness we give to others draws upon us the Lord’s forgiveness and also the cancellation of the punishment; if our love is great, intense, universal, toward every sin committed, without hatred, resentment and with our heart totally free from any residue of resentment.

The vengeful will suffer the Lord’s vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail. Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Should a man nourish anger against his fellows and expect healing from the Lord? Should a man refuse mercy to his fellows, yet seek pardon for his own sins? If he who is but flesh cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins? Remember your last days, set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin! Think of the commandments, hate not your neighbor; of the Most High’s covenant, and overlook faults (Sir 28,1-7).

St. Peter teaches, drawing a truth from the Old Testament, that charity covers a multitude of sins. It covers them because it hides them. It hides them forgiving them, not spreading them, excusing the sinner, having great compassion and piety for him.

The end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be serious and sober for prayers. Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God; whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1Pt 4,7-11).

The Old Testament has a great teaching about the forgiveness of sins. In addition to almsgiving that atones them, a great treasure for the atonement of all pain is the love between parents. This love is special. It has a very high value for the Lord.

Children, pay heed to a father’s right; do so that you may live. For the Lord sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons. He who honors his father atones for sins; he stores up riches who reveres his mother. He who honors his father is gladdened by children, and when he prays he is heard. He who reveres his father will live a long life; he obeys the Lord who brings comfort to his mother. He who fears the Lord honors his father, and serves his parents as rulers. In word and deed honor your father that his blessing may come upon you; For a father’s blessing gives a family firm roots, but a mother’s curse uproots the growing plant. Glory not in your father’s shame, for his shame is no glory to you! His father’s honor is a man’s glory; disgrace for her children, a mother’s shame. My son, take care of your father when he is old; grieve him not as long as he lives. Even if his mind fail, be considerate with him; revile him not in the fullness of your strength. For kindness to a father will not be forgotten, it will serve as a sin offering – it will take lasting root. In time of tribulation it will be recalled to your advantage, like warmth upon frost it will melt away your sins. A blasphemer is he who despises his father; accursed of his Creator, he who angers his mother (Sir 3,1-16).

Jesus reveals that our Father forgives us if we forgive our brothers and sisters, whole heartedly.

In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one. If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints teach us true forgiveness.