Not forgiving is an ingratitude. How could we not forgive others, when God has forgiven us so much? Another way of putting it, scripture says this week, is that if we do not show others forgiveness, it cannot be shown us.

Years ago I wrote a little book on forgiveness. It was supposed to be a quick read, something you could absorb in one sitting. But the longer I spent at the task, the more I realized that forgiveness is not a short subject. I tried to contain it in four easy chapters like the publisher asked.

At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?”

My old grade-school pal Kim was the queen of Mercy. No, I don’t mean she was anything like our Mother Mary. I mean no one could beat her at the playground game of “Mercy,” where kids stand in a circle and interlock fingers with the person next to them and then try to twist back the wrists of their neighbors until they cry, “Mercy!” 

When the first plane slammed into the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001, I was in the throes of a crisis that left me deeply hurt and confused. I had experienced a personal betrayal I couldn’t imagine ever understanding and certainly never forgiving.

To be forgiven, we must forgive. We turn to God for the forgiveness we are to show to others.

Late have I loved you, O Beauty, ever ancient, ever new . . .