The Feast of Saints Pontian and Hippolytus - Pope and Anti-Pope.

"So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.” (Matthew 18: 35).

Thursday 13th August 2020, 19th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of a Pope and an anti Pope: Saints Pontian, Pope and Hippolytus, anti Pope (priest). By a mysterious design of Divine Providence, both waring clerics found themselves in the the same prison at the same time. They reconciled and were martyred together under the Emperor Maximinus Thrax. (+ 235).

Our heavenly Father will smile upon Pontian and Hippolytus as He welcomed them into paradise because they heard the message of His Son, Jesus Christ and forgave "his brother from his heart."

How about you sister? How about you brother? Do you know anyone you need to forgive today from your heart? Think about this:

#1 "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." (Matthew 6: 12).

#2 David said to God after his serious sins: "I have sinned. Have mercy on me." The Father said to David: "Your sins have been forgiven."

#3 From the cross while still in excruciating agony, Jesus prayed: "Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing."

#4 Nelson Mandela was put behind maximum security prison for 27 years of torture. By the mystery of Divine Providence, when he was released, he became the President of a large and rich country. The first thing he did was to forgive all those who persecuted him.

How to deal with the poison of Unforgivenness:
#1 Ask for forgiveness for your sins every day.
#2 Ask God every day to grant the grace to all those you have offended to forgive you.
#3 Use the power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation to break the poisonous strangle of unforgiveness.

Never forget the forgiveness of the Lord!

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com