Joshua 3:7-11, 13-17 / Matthew 18:21 - 19:1
Human intelligence is truly an amazing thing. Human beings are able to use their intelligence to create solutions to problems and also other inventions to make life more comfortable and easy.
On the other hand, there are limits to what human intelligence can do, especially when it comes to the laws of nature. The brilliance of human intelligence cannot go against the laws of nature.
The 1st reading recounted the crossing of the river Jordan by the people led by Joshua. Although it was not as dramatic as the crossing of the Red Sea, it was still something amazing.
When Joshua told the people how they were going to cross the river Jordan, it was not something that the human mind or human intelligence was able to comprehend.
Just how can the waters of the upper Jordan flowing down will be stopped in their course and stand still in one mass?
It can be possible with a lot of engineering and construction and take some time. But for it to happen immediately is almost out of the question. Out of the question if not for divine intervention.
Similarly when Jesus taught about forgiveness in the gospel, we may think how is it possible to keep on forgiving those who keep on hurting us.
Certainly not possible if not for divine assistance as well as divine enlightenment. Not only we need to ask God to help us forgive those who have hurt us or done us wrong.
We also need to ask God to let us experience His love for us so that His love will heal our wounded hearts so that we can forgive others from our hearts.
Human intelligence may be able to comprehend forgiveness but it is the healed heart that will put it into action.
Let us ask the Lord to forgive us our sins and heal our hearts so that we in turn can forgive as God has forgiven us.