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The Heart of a Forgiving God
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Jeremiah 31:31-34
The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors the day I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land of Egypt; for they broke my covenant, and I had to show myself their master, says the LORD. But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD. I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they will be my people. They will no longer teach one another, or say to one another, “Know the LORD!” for they shall all know me, from the least to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.
Grace Prayed For
This scripture passage prompts us to pray for the grace to truly believe in God’s unconditional forgiveness, and to allow Him to act freely in our lives, writing His law of love on our hearts.
Reflection
Imagine yourself standing before the God of the universe. He’s not angry, but full of compassion. In this passage from Jeremiah, He’s making a promise—a promise that transcends time and space. He’s not just talking about the people of Israel; He’s talking about you. He’s telling you that He is making a new covenant, one written not on stone tablets, but on your very heart. This isn’t a set of rules to follow, but a profound, intimate relationship.
This new covenant is a radical act of love and mercy. God says, “I will be their God, and they will be my people.” This isn’t about mere knowledge; it’s about a deep, personal knowing. From the “least to the greatest,” He says, “they shall all know me.” This knowing comes from a place of radical forgiveness. “I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.” Think about that. He will remember your sins no more. It’s as if they never happened. This is the heart of our Trinitarian God—a God who yearns to be in a perfect, loving union with you, to forgive you, to cleanse you, and to make you new.
This is a profoundly personal invitation. God is not distant; He is reaching into your life, writing His law of love on your heart. He is doing this not because you’ve earned it, but because He desires it. He wants you to live freely in His love, unburdened by guilt and shame. This is the truth that must take root in your heart, so that you can live from a place of intimate connection with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And once this truth is alive in you, you will not be able to keep it to yourself. Your life will become a living testament to the God who forgives and forgets, inviting others into this same glorious reality.
Announcing Jesus in Our Lives
The message of Jesus—that God desires to forgive you and to be in an intimate relationship with you—is not something we keep to ourselves. Because of how Jesus has loved me and impacted my life through His forgiveness, I can share this with others. In my day-to-day life, I can announce this message through my actions and words. When I respond to someone with compassion instead of judgment, I am living out the reality of God’s forgiveness. When I share a personal story of how Jesus’s love has healed a past hurt, I am a witness to His power. By listening to a friend without interruption or bias, I can show them the unconditional acceptance of Christ. When I admit my own failings and ask for forgiveness, I model the humility that allows God to work in us all. These simple acts, rooted in the truth of God’s mercy, become a beacon of hope, inviting others to encounter the forgiving heart of our Trinitarian God.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post