WORDS OF LIVING WATERS DAILY INSPIRATION
Monday, 15th June, 2026.
Theme: Grow in the Virtue of Forgiveness
( 1 Kgs 21:1-16,Ps 5, Matt 5: 38-42)
In Ex 21:23-27, Moses told the people of Israel to retaliate when a brother or a sister offends them. The principle of you do me I do you was the practice of the day. Moses gave them this principle for a reason as if it was a divine law, I mean a law given from God. And for the people once it was coming from Moses, then it is from God, because this was a man who became a mediator between them and God. The issues of the Israelites became too much for Moses to handle as their leader. Therefore he gave them such rules to prevent them from too much disturbance. Hence if you slap me and also slap you, then I have no cause to go to him and complain. This was still a practice during the time of Jesus.
In Scripture,there are what we call divine elements or laws and human elements or laws. The above law by Moses was part of the human laws which were not coming from God, hence Jesus had to give the original intention of God in such matters. Another one has to do with the issue of divorce which again Jesus corrected them and gave the original intention of God. The fact that God doesn’t endorse divorce. As the fulfilment of the law he came to give true meaning to the laws of God.
Forgiveness promotes peace among us. Jesus is therefore calling on us to be instrument of peace in our world. The world considers forgiveness as a sign of weakness, but in reality it’s the strong in character who forgives. Revenge is not a Christian attitude, hence we must avoid it. The difference between us and the others is that we are able to forgive when we are hurt. Vengeance belongs to God. Always forgive and respond to such evil conducts with good deeds. Sometimes our kind heart and character challenges the people and transforms them. Learn to easily forgive.
To err is human but to forgive is divine, therefore we need the grace of God to mature in this virtue. Don’t follow the comments of people and end up retaliating those who offend us.
May the Holy Spirit help us to grow in the virtue of forgiveness Amen. Have a Blessed Week.
Shalom🙏🏼🙏🏼
Rev. Fr. Akakpo Matthew
