Jesus also taught us that “For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you” (Mt 7:2). Perhaps, however, those “who trespass against us” are in fact doing us a favor. This should bring home to us the enormity and preciousness of God’s gift of mercy. Sin is a wound in the heart of an all-loving God. The cynicism and lack of compassion so characteristic of our times are painfully evident. Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond. It’s hard enough to forgive someone who has taken our money and possessions. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your father forgive you your trespasses. Archbishop William E. Lori was installed as the 16th Archbishop of Baltimore May 16, 2012. Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your father who is in heaven will forgive you. We live in a culture that’s often angry and unforgiving. Each of us is one tweet away from public denunciation and loss of reputation. Some will say “forgive us our debts,” some will say “trespasses,” and others will say “sins.” How we recite that phrase usually depends more on what English-speaking Christian tradition influenced us than what Bible translation we use. What’s more, harsh attitudes and rhetoric are often not reserved only for public figures; unforgiving attitudes and words can easily spill over into one’s personal and professional relationships. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Washington in 1977. A native of Louisville, Ky., Archbishop Lori holds a bachelor's degree from the Seminary of St. Pius X in Erlanger, Ky., a master's degree from Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg and a doctorate in sacred theology from The Catholic University of America. What we are really asking is for the grace not to engage in it ourselves. Did not Jesus say to us, “…love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Mt 5:44)? Each of us is one tweet away from public denunciation and loss of reputation. Prior to his appointment to Baltimore, Archbishop Lori served as Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn., from 2001 to 2012 and as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington from 1995 to 2001.
Those raised in Presbyterian or … Perhaps as never before people suffer from anxiety, loneliness and isolation. Here we are not necessarily asking God to protect us from it. mail@CatholicReview.org, Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada, © 2020 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Knocking on Vatican door, ‘Heaven in Baltimore’ and honky-tonk heroes, The sadness of an adoption program closing, It’s fall, a different kind of Halloween, reasons to travel, and those finches (7 Quick Takes), Pro-life center opens next to Planned Parenthood in downtown Baltimore, Turkey Bowl football rivalry will continue Thanksgiving Day for Calvert Hall, Loyola Blakefield, ‘An enduring symbol of God’ returns to the Baltimore skyline, Catholic Charities of Baltimore ends international adoption program, RADIO INTERVIEW: How to feel good and how not to – the ethics of recreational drug use, Catholic University’s McGivney collection documents sainthood candidate’s legacy, Sister Margaret St. John Brocato, OSF, taught 32 years in Baltimore Archdiocese, Movie Review: ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’, USCCB offers ‘Election Novena’ as way to prepare for Nov. 3, pray for nation, Judiciary Committee votes to send Barrett nomination to full Senate, Pope has history of defending marriage, but being open to some civil unions. Filed Under: Charity in Truth, Commentary. The Greek word for “forgive” in the New Testament is the … Mark 11:25-26 “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. They are giving us a clue of how our sinfulness offends God. In addition to his responsibilities in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Archbishop Lori serves as Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus and is the former chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty. So quickly, in fact, that we may even fail to consider what we’re asking of Our Heavenly Father. 443-524-3150 As Lent gives way to Holy Week and Easter, let us take inventory. Baltimore, MD 21201 by Philip Ryken. Yes, the Lord is asking us to forgive those who have done such things to us, even as we seek his forgiveness for the wrong we have done to him. When we pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,” we are asking (among other things) to be delivered from this culture of comeuppance. It’s not that we take anything away from Him.
St. Paul echoes the Lord’s words, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if your enemy is thirsty, give him something to drink … ” (Rom 12:20). Take, for example, the words, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We may be eager to be forgiven but less eager to forgive others.

Quite the contrary. Who of us doesn’t find this teaching difficult? But it’s even harder, I think, to forgive those who have betrayed our friendship, acted unethically in a professional relationship, besmirched our reputation, spread lies and half-truths about us – in a word, those who have sought to reach into the interior of our lives to do us harm.