Welcome back from the summer holidays! This Sunday the Gospel passage deals with forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-35). Archbishop Desmond Tutu said this of forgiveness, after the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee in South Africa: 'To forgive is not just to be altruistic. It is the best form of self-interest. It is also a process that does not exclude hatred and anger. These emotions are all part of being human. You should never hate yourself for hating others who do terrible things: the depth of your love is shown by the extent of your anger' (www.theforgivenessproject.com). Forgiveness does not mean pretending that nothing has happened. It means acknowledging, understanding and then forgiving. It is a gradual process and not a single moment in time; it is a journey towards wholeness - what Mackintosh (1927:129) calls a voyage of anguish. Nothing is less obvious than forgiveness but at the same time nothing is more necessary.

Weekly reflections on the Gospel for the coming Sunday are available on request. They will come once a week and will never be more than 200 words. If you would like to receive these emails then please email the Parish Secretary