Is forgiveness used today?

CNN reported a very unusual event that occurred at an Asian market recently in response to a burglary years ago. Several years ago, while the owner's son worked in the market late one night, a hooded man came in and took their money at gun point. The man handed it over based on his father's instructions earlier on which included "Money is replaceable. You are not."

This man who robbed them recently entered their store again; this time, he entered with another man and placed an envelope on the counter. The son, who happened to be working again, told them that they would have to wait for the owner to return, in response to them asking for his father. These two men stepped outside, had brief words, and returned to the counter. The envelope was placed on the counter again and the men just walked out and left.

The envelope contained the amount that was taken from them (about $400) along with a note admitting to his drug use and an apology. The owner shared his shock that the money was repaid to them. He had decided after the robbery that he was going to let it go...he was going to let God handle it and he was going to forget about it.

Forgiveness is a principle used in several 12 Step programs. In working a program, a person takes inventory of resentments, fears, everything during the Fourth Step. They then prepare, admit, and turn over all of their defects of character to the God of their understanding. This leads them to prepare a list of people whom they have harmed during their addiction (Step 8) and with Step 9, they must make amends for their wrong doing. This unknown man is working on his Ninth Step and probably does not know if he is forgiven or not. He tried to make amends.

Forgiveness is an underlying theme in our everyday world. There are plenty of opportunities every day to forgive...especially with younger siblings and random strangers. Let Christ inspire us through the words of David in Psalms to forgive others:

"As far as the east is from the west, so has he removed our transgressions from us."
Psalm 103:12

What does the Catholic Church have to say about the conflict in Syria?

Pope Francis, in speaking to the audience in St. Peter's Square on September 1, called for a day of fasting and prayer for the conflict in Syria. This day of petition, set for Saturday, September 7, calls all the faithful of the Roman Catholic Church and other Christian traditions to raise up sacrifices for worldwide peace. The Pope explained that peace is something that belongs to everyone, and so he encouraged everyone to participate in this day.

In a quote from the article "Pope Francis Announces Global Prayer Vigil for peace on Sept. 7" by Kerri Lenartowick of CNA, the Pope stated, “With all my strength, I ask each party in this conflict to listen to the voice of their own conscience, not to close themselves in solely on their own interests, but, rather, to look at each other as brothers and decisively and courageously to follow the path of encounter and negotiation and so overcome blind conflict." 

This is a very important upcoming day for all of us, and especially the Catholic community, so please consider joining in this pivotal moment to pray for peace.

To see what another classmate wrote about this same subject, please go here: http://globefrombismarck.wordpress.com/category/travis/
To read more about this day of penance and get involved in it, please visit: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/pope-francis-announces-global-prayer-vigil-for-peace-on-sept.-7