Reflection Date: August 13, 2026 | Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint Pontian, Pope and Martyr, and Saint Hippolytus, Priest and Martyr
Daily Readings: Ezekiel 12:1-12; Matthew 18:21-19:1
Children of God:
During the New Year's Eve celebration at the Vatican on December 31, 2019, a brief incident involving Pope Francis quickly spread around the world.
As he greeted pilgrims in St. Peter's Square, one woman suddenly grabbed his hand and pulled him toward her with unexpected force.
The Pope appeared surprised and visibly irritated.
To free himself, he tapped the woman's hand several times before continuing on his way.
The video immediately went viral, and many people discussed whether his reaction reflected frustration or self-defense.
The following day, before praying the Angelus, Pope Francis spoke openly about the incident.
He apologized, saying that he had lost patience and that this was "a bad example."
His apology surprised many people because he did not defend himself or make excuses for his reaction.
Instead, he admitted his mistake with humility before the whole world.
From that incident, we learned that even holy people experience moments of weakness, but true greatness is shown by the courage to acknowledge one's faults, ask forgiveness, and begin again.
In the gospel of Matthew, Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who sinned against him.
He probably thought that forgiving seven times was already generous.
But Jesus answered, "seventy-seven times" (Matthew 18:22).
What inspirations can we draw from this Gospel?
First, forgiveness starts with humility.
Pope Francis could have ignored the criticism after the incident in St. Peter's Square.
Instead, he chose to apologize publicly.
That simple act reminded the world that admitting our mistakes does not diminish our dignity.
Rather, it reveals honesty and humility.
Many conflicts continue because no one wants to say, "I was wrong."
Pride convinces us that apologizing makes us appear weak.
Yet broken relationships often remain broken because both sides wait for the other to take the first step.
Families remain divided, friendships grow cold, and misunderstandings deepen simply because humility is absent.
Jesus called His followers to forgive generously because He knew that every one of us depends on God's mercy every day.
We all make mistakes.
We all need forgiveness.
When we humbly admit our faults and sincerely ask for pardon, we open the door for healing, reconciliation, and peace.
Forgiveness starts with humility.
Second, mercy received should become mercy shared.
The servant in Jesus' parable owed an impossible debt.
His master forgave everything out of compassion.
Yet when that same servant met someone who owed him a much smaller amount, he refused to forgive and demanded immediate payment.
Jesus used this story to expose how easily people receive mercy but hesitate to give it.
Sometimes we remember every hurt done to us while forgetting how much patience others have shown us.
Parents forgive their children repeatedly.
Friends overlook our shortcomings.
God continually welcomes us back despite our failures.
Yet we may still find it difficult to release resentment toward someone else.
Forgiveness does not mean pretending that pain never happened.
Neither does it excuse wrongdoing.
It means choosing not to let bitterness rule our hearts.
Jesus invited us to forgive because forgiveness frees not only the other person but also ourselves.
It allows God's mercy to flow through our lives instead of stopping with us.
Mercy received should become mercy shared.
As we reflect on this Gospel, let us ask ourselves some sincere questions. Is there someone I need to forgive so that my heart may become free again?
Am I willing to admit my own mistakes and sincerely ask forgiveness when I have hurt others? How can I become a living witness of God's mercy in my family, workplace, and community?
Children of God:
God's mercy remains greater than our failures, and His forgiveness never grows tired.
Jesus invites us to treat others with the same compassion that He continually gives us.
Every act of forgiveness weakens the power of resentment.
Every merciful heart reflects the heart of Christ.
May we never grow weary of forgiving because God never grows weary of forgiving us.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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