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Today’s Gospel reminds us that forgiveness is at the heart of being a Christian. Peter asks Jesus, “How often must I forgive?” Jesus answers, “Not seven times but seventy-seven times”—in other words, forgiveness is not something we keep counting.
Jesus then tells the story of the servant who is forgiven an enormous debt but refuses to forgive a much smaller debt owed to him.
The message is clear: we cannot fully appreciate God’s mercy toward us while refusing to show mercy to others.
We all have people who have hurt us, disappointed us, or made forgiveness difficult. Forgiving does not mean pretending the hurt never happened. It means choosing not to let anger and resentment have the final word.
Every time we pray the Our Father, we ask God to “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
Today, Jesus invites us to take those words seriously. We have been forgiven much; therefore, we are called to forgive much.
May the mercy we receive from God become the mercy we offer to one another.
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Progress!! Visit the Building Committee website for architect renderings of new church possibilities. Click this link:
https://qhrwea.church/building-committee
Dear Wea Family,
As we discern and pray about where our new worship space will be located and what it will include, a few thoughts to consider.
The church we are building will be made of brick, stone, wood, and glass. But, as a parish, the Church we are called to be is made up of people—people who love God, love one another, and come together around the Eucharist and the graces we receive in the Sacraments.
We should certainly discuss the location carefully. We should listen to the facts, consider the practical concerns, ask good questions, and offer our opinions honestly. But we must do so with charity. No particular location is worth damaging the unity of our parish family.
Before we ask, “Where should the church be built?” perhaps we should first ask, “What does God want us to build in our hearts?”
Let us pray for the humility to listen, the wisdom to discern, and the generosity to let go when necessary. Let us resist the temptation to turn a difference of opinion into a difference of sides. We are not opposing teams. We are brothers and sisters who worship at the same altar and are trying to discern God's will together.
When the decision is finally made, not everyone may get exactly what they hoped for. But everyone should be able to say, “I did my best to seek God's will, I listened to my brothers and sisters, and I will support our parish family.”
Years from now, people may not remember who argued for one location or another. But they will remember whether this moment brought us closer together or drove us apart.
So let us build this church the same way we hope to build our parish: on faith, prayer, humility, charity, and unity.
May the Holy Spirit guide our parish, may the Lord bless our decision, and may our new church become not simply a beautiful building, but a place where generations of people will encounter Jesus Christ and His immeasurable love for all of us.
Let us not allow the location of our new church to divide the Church we already are. No matter where it sits, it will be a beautiful and sacred place to gather together in prayer and worship.
Let us move forward together, trusting that when we sincerely seek God's will, He will lead us where He wants us to go.
In HIS Peace,
Deacon Tom
A bit of humor…
They say the Church is built on faith.
Our building committee is putting that to the test—especially their faith that the Parish will ever agree on where to build it!
Have a Blessed week…
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Deacon Tom
(314) 393-3347