Pardoning love is a character in which God delights to manifest Himself to us: forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. The debt of guilt we have contracted in our lives, even the young who are here, is immense. We have need, as we also have the fullest encouragement, to pray daily, forgive us our trespasses. But let us not forget, what we add to that petition; as we forgive them that trespass against us. The unforgiving servant in the Gospel stirs our indignation as we hear it read, but is it not a too faithful representation of very many among ourselves? We deal out to our fellow servants, our brethren in Christ, a different measure from that of God to us. He pardons our many and great offences, and thoroughly on our true penitence. We are apt to be unforgiving of every slight offence against what we consider our rights; we forgive reluctantly, and with reserve; seldom fully, freely, and heartily. Often when we profess to forgive one who has offended or injured us, we retain a coldness of heart and a distance of manner scarcely differing from retained hatred, or, at best, dislike. What room for daily amendment of our spirit, and improvement of our conduct, may we find as to this matter! Remember, that our loving God observes our want of love. Nor forget that this commandment have we from God, that he who loveth God, love his brother also. There are few defects in Christians more observable than an unforgiving spirit.
- text taken from Daily Bread - Bring a Few Morning Meditations for the Use of Catholic Christians by Father Richard Waldo Sibthorp