77 Times

That's how many times Jesus says we are to forgive those who have sinned against us in today's Gospel reading. If you're like me, you are guilty sometimes of acting like an accountant and keep a mental "ledger" on the "accounts" of those around me: family, children, friends, co-workers, etc. But we have to throw away those accountant hats and ledgers, and instead be like the parent who never gives up loving and hoping for the child. Only in this way will our hearts be wide open enough to receive all of the forgiveness and understanding that we ourselves need.