• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
"Return of the Prodigal Son" is an oil painting by Rembrandt. (Public domain)

Practice forgiveness, extend mercy

October 6, 2020
By Father Joseph Breighner
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Commentary, Wit & Wisdom

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

A religion teacher had just finished her class about forgiving others with a lesson about turning the other cheek.

So she asked little Johnny, “Now when you go home today, and the neighbor’s boy slaps you on the right cheek, what are you going to do?”

Johnny replied, “How big is the neighbor’s boy?”

Forgiveness is something we all want to receive, but don’t always want to give.

Another little boy was asked, “Why does God forgive?” He replied, “Because that’s his business!”

And that is why we forgive. We forgive because we believe we have the presence of God within us. Our lives ideally are so filled with God that we must act like God. And Jesus telling us in the Scriptures to forgive 70 times seven – suggesting an infinite number – makes the point that God’s mercy far exceeds our normal human generosity.

What messages are in there for us? Several. One positive message is that if we suffer from scrupulosity (going over again and again in our minds real or imagined transgressions) we can let go of the guilt. God forgives an infinite number of times. We can accept that forgiveness an infinite number of times. God isn’t bringing misery. God wants to bring mercy.

Second, we forgive because forgiveness not only sets someone else free, it sets us free. If I’m holding onto a grudge toward someone else, the suffering one is me. To forgive others is a gift to myself.

If we make a constant practice of forgiving ourselves and forgiving others we will transform our own lives.

Allow me to suggest a little practice: As you go through each day, stop every so often to see if you are disapproving of anything about yourself and let it go. Second, in that moment, give yourself love and approval. Third, check to see if you are disapproving of anyone else in your life. Let that go. Fourth, send them love and approval.

Again, all of this is going on inside our minds. No one knows we’re doing any of it. What happens is that we are constantly letting go of judgments about ourselves throughout the day and giving ourselves love. Then we are constantly dropping judgment of others and sending them love.

We literally are practicing, moment by moment, loving others as we love ourselves. That was a new commandment when Jesus gave it. It is worth becoming a new practice if we actually do it moment by moment.

Practice living each moment with the power of God. And in so doing, you and I are constantly becoming the very love of God himself.

Copyright © 2020 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Father Joseph Breighner

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

Cupcakes with 2025 graduation toothpicks in them and a bowl of cookies

Our 31-hour Road Trip

St. Paul and discovering that sin is ‘missing the mark’

Six lit candles on a chocolate birthday cake

Making a birthday wish come true

Pilgrims of Hope: Walking the Way of St. Francis in the Year of Jubilee

The fisherman and the pharisee

| Recent Local News |

Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors

DUAL ENROLLMENT

Double the learning: Dual enrollment provides college credit to high school students

St. Mary’s purchases former Annapolis Area Christian School

Radio Interview: Exploring the Nicene Creed – Part Two

St. Clement Mary Hofbauer adapts to times, cultures as it celebrates 100th anniversary

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Judge blocks Trump birthright citizenship order as part of class action lawsuit
  • Ukraine religious leaders issue ‘desperate cry’ to world to end Russia’s war
  • Pope Leo wears Chicago-made vestments to July 9 ‘care of creation’ Mass
  • Movie Review: Sorry, Baby
  • ICE deports Iowa parishioner to Guatemala homeland as supporters pray for his release
  • Come away and rest awhile
  • French woman hopes sharing mystical encounter with Minnesota Benedictine helps sainthood cause
  • Pope: Vatican still ready to host peace talks between Russia, Ukraine
  • Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en