Good morning, to all the children of God present in this Zoom Conference today.

Kamusta kamo
tanan?. I hope you are all safe and in a good condition as we continue our journey towards the
sacrament of the Eucharist which you are about to receive the body of Christ very soon. But
before you totally receive the Body of Christ through the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist, let us
wrestle first and let us keep in minds and hearts the evry important value and action we need to
do as Christians.

Now, who among you here experienced to be so angry, so hurt, so violated by someone’s words or
actions that you could not forgive?  And all you wanted to do in that moment was to speak hurtful
words and to take vengeful actions?

We have all had such moments because someone we admired, trusted or loved hurt us, pained us,
or broke faith with us. But didn’t we find ourselves at the same moment struggling to love them
without limits and to forgive them without condition—struggling to be Christian so that we could
forgive and reconcile?

Today’s sharing present us with contrasting sets of values for Christian life. That is being merciful
and forgiving, as Jesus teaches. Let me start my sharing today with two stories. I know that you
will be participative because as to your age you really like stories.

A story to forgiveness.

There are a lot of stories about forgiveness in the Bible. But I would like to highlight 2 stories
that will give us a very deep understanding about the forgiveness.

First one is the story of Joseph.

The story of Joseph is found in the first book of the Bible, Genesis.

So what is it that Joseph had that we could benefit from? Well, Joseph
had a father who loved him and shared his love of God with him.
While many of us may have experienced heartache in our relationship
with our own parents, it is God’s love that has the power to bring us
through any trial or pain of brokenheartedness – even when it is the
pain experienced from the lack of our parent’s love. After all, our
parents can only give us what they have received. God’s love, however,
has the power to heal whatever wounds we may carry in our heart,
especially wounds that frustrate our attempts to participate in his plan
for our lives.

Just as God’s love healed the wounds in Joseph’s heart, the pain of the
loss of his mother and the hatred of his brothers, it too can heal our
hearts so that we can participate in the birth of a better life for
ourselves and those who follow us. By inviting forgiveness and
acceptance into our hearts, like Joseph did, we open the door to
greater love in our lives, a door that brings forth peace of heart. Once
our hearts are at peace we become free to share with our children, our
grandchildren and the world the plan God has for our lives – which
remember is for our good.
When Joseph was put in prison and given the opportunity to interpret the dreams of the Butler and
Baker, he gave God the credit. Two years later when Pharaoh brought him to the palace to interpret
his dreams, Joseph said, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

Now, face to face with his brothers who hated him so much they wanted to kill him, and finally sold
him into slavery, he said, “Don’t blame yourselves. Three times he said, “God sent me before.
When we truly live in the presence of God, seeking his favor and following His will regardless of the
obstacles or trials, forgiveness flows from our heart because it’s who we are.

Who do you need to forgive? A friend? A neighbor? A co-worker? A brother or sister in Christ? Your
mother? Father? Brother? Sister?

Forgiveness is not only a gift you give others but a gift you give yourself. It frees your heart from
pettiness, bitterness, and blame.

Finally, remember the admonition of George Herbert, “He who cannot forgive others, destroys the
bridge over which he himself must pass.

Through God’s words, we can know the principles and meaning of

God’s work in the Age of Grace. Since we are corrupted by Satan and
we are sinners, without God’s salvation, we can only live under the
bonds of sin and finally be the object of punishment. If we
acknowledge that we are sinful and accept the Lord Jesus’
redemption, then we will have the chance to receive God’s salvation.
While those who think highly of themselves and do not acknowledge
that they are sinful can never know themselves and accept God’s
salvation. In God’s words “I came not to call the righteous, but
sinners to repentance” are hidden God’s great mercy and salvation
for man. So, having understood God’s will of saving man, for what
reason do we not accept God’s salvation and love?

Love is the only thing that heals what is wrong inside a person, and
causes a conversion of the heart.  Jesus had all the love and patience in
the world with people.  That is why everyone loved him so much, and
amended their lives almost immediately, after they encountered him.  
He didn’t judge their sins, unless people like the Pharisees judged the
sins of others.

This is something many of us need to learn to do better, to just love the

person in front of us.  Set aside their sins, and just accept them and
love them just as they are.  Jesus said in today’s gospel that, “Those
who are well do not need a physician but the sick do.”  There are so
many hurting, lonely, neglected, abused, or unloved people in our
communities.  It may not be obvious to everyone what is wrong, but
the most basic need any of us have is to be accepted and
unconditionally loved.  People who have not experienced this kind of
unconditional love are the ones that are spiritually sick.  Love is the
medicine that they need, in order to heal.  And many people have
never really felt loved before.  You can’t give what you haven’t
received.

Jesus gave people the love and acceptance they needed in order to heal
and undergo a conversion of the heart.  This is what we are called to do
as well.  Sometimes the more a person acts out, the more they need
our love.  Perhaps we should try to remember this gospel reading the
next time someone we know starts acting irresponsibly, carelessly, or
without regard for God or other people.  Jesus loved people first,
before they loved him back, and we should work on learning to do this
as well.
here’s a great relevance in the Lord’s word concerning leprosy, especially in this age that we live
in. Leprosy has been an infectious disease, a chronic disease, that has been plaguing humankind
for thousands of years.

This disease had no cure for a long time, and only in the last mid-century there was a drop-
therapy that could take care of it. It is a horrible disease both in itself and in its result, in what it
does to man.

Through some bad bacteria that comes into man’s body, there are some spots, some whiteness,
some nodules, that cause a slow decrease of sensation in the peripheral nerves, taking away the
feeling. Because of this, people who are leprous have no sense; they can even cut their fingers or
put their hands in the fire and have no feeling, thus resulting in losing limbs.

There’s even a withdrawal of the body tissue which results in a great disfiguration and deformity.
This leprosy, which comes out from within man, is a disease that we all are stricken by; in the
eyes of God leprosy signifies sin as a result of man’s rebellion. We were born sinners in Adam,
so we all inherited this disease.

Today all humankind is leprous, but the good news is that we can see the type where, through
certain procedure that God has ordained, this disease can be healed. We can not only be healed
and cured from this disease, but we can even be cleansed from it!

Confession is a sacrament instituted by Jesus Christ in his love and mercy. It is here that we meet the loving
Jesus who offers sinners forgiveness for offenses committed against God and neighbor. At the same time,
Confession permits sinners to reconcile with the Church which also is wounded by our sins.