examination of the heart 306 your heart, intellect, and will. But in what will you believe? In internal promptings, by which you are inspired to do good and to avoid evil. TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Before Holy Communion 1. “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?” (Mt 18:21). Ponder this: although it is unbecoming for you to hate anybody or to burn with furious anger towards someone, yet, should this misfortune happen, know that you should not only forgive the one who wronged you countless times, but also wish and do the best for him, praying for him after the example of Christ the Lord, who prayed for those who crucified Him. Indeed, think of yourself as not only unfit to avenge wrongs, insults, and blows, but also as deserving to be assailed, harassed, and despised by all; and yet you must still pray for them. So where is this virtue of yours? You are more likely to inflict injuries rather than pardon them. At least now pray before the Divine Majesty for His foes, for the foes of the Church, of your community, and your own. 2. “one was brought to him” (Mt 18:24). Imagine that you are this debtor, the one who owes ten thousand talents; you owe so many virtues and are liable to as many vices. By sinning, you contracted countless debts, and you do not yet begin to repay them, but (O wretched and foolish one!) you amass and increase them. Believe me, you cannot repay your debts by increasing them. Why, therefore, are you [f.87v] so foolish that, having committed so many evil deeds while living in the world, you daily add new debts in God’s house and incur new punishments for yourself? To action! Turn to the gracious Lord and since you cannot repay Him, pray that He may forgive your debts. But in turn, you must forgive your debtors, if you have any.
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