Day 10: “Reconciliation and Forgiveness”

Scripture Reading (Jerusalem Bible):

Matthew 5:23-24
“If you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering.”

Reflection:

Forgiveness is the doorway to healing, the first step toward true reconciliation. We accept that a past action has happened that has hurt us, and we begin to let it go, not by our own strength, but through the grace of God, who leads us toward healing and freedom. Jesus reminds us that before we approach God, we must examine our hearts and choose to forgive. Forgiveness is an act of the will—a decision to release resentment and entrust justice to God. It is not always easy, but it frees us from the weight of bitterness and prepares us to receive God’s mercy.

Sometimes, the wounds in a relationship run deep, and forgiveness is not a single moment but a continuing process. We may not always feel emotionally ready to forgive, but turning to the Father and asking for His grace to forgive is the first step. When we do not feel sincere, authentic forgiveness is fully possible at a given moment, we can begin with a simple prayer.

“Father, pour Your mercy upon the one I need to forgive. The pain is still present, and forgiveness feels difficult. Grant me the grace to heal through Your mercy and have the strength and freedom to fully forgive.”

You may need to say it multiple times over days, months, or even years, but each time you do, you take a step closer to the full freedom of forgiveness. The desire to forgive, even if imperfect, is what allows God’s grace to gradually transform your heart.

Abba Moses the Black said:

“The man who is angry with his brother is like a man who drinks poison and hopes it will kill his enemy”(Apophthegmata Patrum, Alphabetical Collection, Moses 7)

Holding onto anger harms us far more than it does the other person. Forgiveness frees us, even when reconciliation is not possible. Sometimes, the other person may not be open to restoration, and wounds may remain. But even if human reconciliation is unattainable, God is always open to us. His mercy is never withheld, and He invites us to bring our brokenness to Him for healing.

Reconciliation is more than resolving conflicts; it is about restoring relationships. The word reconciliation comes from the Latin reconciliare, meaning to bring together again, to restore harmony. True reconciliation happens when we see others as God sees them—not as adversaries, but as fellow children of God, wounded as we are, in need of grace and healing. It is not merely about resolving disputes but about restoring communion.

Abba Dorotheus provides wisdom:

“Do not imagine that you will be able to correct others before you have corrected yourself. Reconcile first your own heart to peace, and then you will be able to bring peace to others.” (Discourses and Sayings, Dorotheus of Gaza)

Before we can reconcile with others, we must reconcile with God. Sin damages our relationship with Him, distorting our vision and leading us away from His love. Often, we fail to recognize the weight of our sins or their consequences. True reconciliation begins when we see ourselves in the light of His love and seek His mercy.

One of the greatest gifts of the Church is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Christ instituted this sacrament to restore us to grace, lift the burden of sin, and renew our hearts.

Confession is not about judgment but healing. God longs to pour out His mercy, removing the barriers that sin creates between us and Him. When we avoid this sacrament, we deny ourselves the grace that Christ freely offers.

St. Augustine offers this insight:

“I probed the hidden depths of my soul and wrung its pitiful secrets from it, and when I mustered them all before the eyes of my heart, a great storm broke within me, bringing with it a great deluge of tears… For I felt that I was still captive of my sins, and in my misery, I kept crying, ‘How long shall I go on saying, “Tomorrow, tomorrow”? Why not now? Why not make an end of my ugly sins at this moment? (Confessions, 8.12)

Reconciliation with God leads to freedom. It gives us the grace to seek healing in our relationships.

Abba Poemen reminds us:

“If someone wrongs you, you should say to yourself, ‘If it were not for this sin, perhaps I would not be saved.’”(Apophthegmata Patrum, Poemen 65)

Even the wounds inflicted by others can lead us to a deeper dependence on God’s mercy. If we allow them, these struggles can purify our hearts and teach us humility.

Lent is a time to examine our hearts, to forgive, and to be forgiven. Forgiveness sets us free; reconciliation restores what was broken. As we reflect today, let us ask: How can we take steps toward reconciliation in our lives? How can we trust God’s grace to heal the wounds that division has caused? And where in our hearts do we need to surrender resentment and ask for the grace to forgive?

Reflection Questions:

1. Is there someone we need to forgive or seek forgiveness from?
2. How can we let go of anger, resentment, or division and find peace in God’s mercy?
3. How can we practice humility in seeking reconciliation with others?
4. In what ways have our sins damaged our relationship with God, and how can we seek to restore that relationship?
5. How can we renew our hearts through the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

Closing Prayer:

Lord, You are rich in mercy and call us to reflect Your love in our relationships. Help us to forgive as You forgive, and to walk in the freedom of Your grace. Open our hearts to recognize the ways in which we have wounded our relationship with You and grant us the humility to seek Your mercy. May we never fear the Sacrament of Reconciliation but embrace it as a gift of Your love. Transform our hearts, Lord, that we may live in the fullness of Your grace.

Amen.

Day 9: “Ask, Seek, Knock”

Scripture Reading (Jerusalem Bible):

Matthew 7:7-12
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? If you, then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him!”

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reassures us of the generosity and goodness of God. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” These words invite us to approach God with trust and persistence, knowing that He desires to pour out His blessings upon us.

Yet, so often, we hesitate to ask. Perhaps we feel unworthy, or we fear that our prayers won’t be answered. We may struggle with doubt, wondering if God truly hears us. But Jesus reminds us that God is a loving Father who gives good gifts to His children. If even human parents know how to care for their children, how much more will God care for us?

Still, we must recognize that prayer is not about controlling God or demanding what we want. Sometimes the answer is no. And when the answer is no—or when it seems like no answer is coming at all—it can be difficult to trust. Yet, even in the silence, God is at work. Abba Isaac the Theban teaches:

“If you see that your prayers are not being answered, do not give up. God is drawing you closer through your perseverance” (Apophthegmata Patrum, Isaac the Theban 1)

The waiting itself forms us, teaching us trust, humility, and surrender. Sometimes, God withholds what we ask for in order to give us something greater—something we do not yet recognize as His perfect gift. But in order to hear that deeper response, we must make space for silence, for listening. We must be willing not just to ask, but to receive whatever God desires to give.

The Desert Fathers also teach us about the persistence of prayer. Abba Agathon said:

“Prayer is warfare to the last breath.” (Apophthegmata Patrum, Alphabetical Collection, Agathon 9)

Prayer requires perseverance, especially when answers do not come immediately. It is an act of faith to keep asking, seeking, and knocking, even when the way forward seems unclear. True prayer is not transactional—it is relational. It is the opening of our hearts to God, allowing Him to shape our desires and bring us into deeper communion with Him.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, in her Story of a Soul, reflects on this trust:

“I know that the Lord is more tender than any mother, and I fear nothing from Him.”

Her words remind us that we approach a God who is not only powerful but also tender and compassionate. Lent is a time to deepen this trust, to bring our needs and desires to God with open hearts, and to believe that He will respond in His perfect time and way.

As we reflect today, let us ask: Are we approaching God with trust and confidence in His love? How can we be more persistent in prayer, even when answers seem delayed? And how can we respond to others with the same generosity that we seek from God?

Reflection Questions:

1. What are the deepest desires of your heart that you need to bring to God in trust?
2. How can you grow in persistence and patience in prayer, trusting in God’s timing?
3. How can you imitate God’s generosity in responding to the needs of those around you?

Closing Prayer:

Lord, You invite us to ask, seek, and knock, promising that You will respond to our prayers. Help us to approach You with confidence and trust, knowing that You are a loving Father who desires only good for Your children. Teach us to persevere in prayer, even when the answers seem far away, and to trust in Your perfect will. May we also reflect Your generosity by responding to the needs of others with love and compassion.

Amen.