If someone offends you and apologies, you are probably willing to forgive. But if someone offends you and never apologies, you might withhold forgiveness.

You might do a favor for someone you love, or even for a complete stranger. But if someone has offended you and has never apologized for it, you probably will not do a favor for that person. Offenders might think the wrong they’ve done wasn’t so bad. You wouldn’t want to take that risk.

You wouldn’t take that risk, but God would. God did. God did all of us a favor. God sent the only-begotten Son into the world to suffer and die so that we could have eternal life. God did this not for those who committed the least sin, not for those who fasted, not for those with most service hours, and not for those who made the best grades. God did it for everyone. God even did it for sinners.

Saint Paul tells the Romans that Christ died for the ungodly. “Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die.”

How different God is from us! We would not give the time of day to people we know are sinners. Jesus gave his life for them. Jesus gave his life for you, no matter what you’ve done or how well you’ve apologized. God’s love life beyond human experience.

Written by Paul Turner. Liturgy Training Publications
Copyright 2004, Archdiocese of Chicago