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S – Sin not.
T – Tell God about it.
O – Offer the right sacrifice.
P – Put your trust in the Lord. (Psalm 4:4)
For there are three ways of performing an act of mercy: the merciful word, by forgiving and by comforting; secondly, if you can offer no word, then pray – that too is mercy; and thirdly, deeds of mercy. And when the Last Day comes, we shall be judged from this, and on this basis we shall receive the eternal verdict. ~Saint Faustina
“Forgiveness is a beautiful idea – until you have something to forgive.” C.S.Lewis
Ephesians 4:31-32, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ Forgave you.”
God’s “outpouring of mercy cannot penetrate our hearts as long as we have not forgiven those who have trespassed against us. Love … is indivisible; we cannot love the God we can’t see if we do not love the brother or sister we do see.” (No. 2840)
1Jn 4:20 If any one says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.
I cannot believe that a soul who knows how many sins God has forgiven her should not instantly and willingly forgive others. St. Teresa of Avila
Psalm 4:4, Be angry, but sin not. Meditate in your heart upon your bed and be silent. Offer up the right sacrifices and trust in the Lord.
We learn from the Commander of the Army of the Lord in Joshua 5 that God does not take sides against us or our adversaries.
Romans 12:19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it[a] to the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
James 1:19-20, Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.
“Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Take your mind off the situation and person.
Stop the pity party – Heb 12:3-4 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Remember that you are a sinner.
“Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Forgive you whether you feel like it or not.
Matthew 5:44-45 You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.…
Cake story
Matthew 6:14-15: “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Image: Samuel Zellar