“Never forget the three powerful resources you always have available to you: love, prayer and forgiveness.”

God always forgives when you are totally repentant and you desire to change. He forgives…and He never gets tired of forgiving. Never. You may get tired asking. I hope not. He never, never tires of forgiving. Never. - Mother Angelica – EWTN Radio

Gospel text: (MT 6:7-15)

Jesus said to his disciples:
"In praying, do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them.
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

"This is how you are to pray:

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

"If you forgive men their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."

In today’s gospel, Jesus gently nudges us toward the important truth that God our Father sustains us even as he invites us to ask him for sustenance.  Notably, both food and forgiveness are part of that sustaining power. With the help of modern technologies, food has become widely available, but I do not think we are doing so well with forgiveness.  In fact, technologies make it possible for accusations and complaints to fly freely all around us, creating a toxic atmosphere that affects our ability to give and receive forgiveness.