Which is easier to do? To forgive or to ask for forgiveness?
It may depend on the situation and the circumstances.
At times, the hatred is so deep that forgiveness is out of the question.
And also to forgive makes us feel vulnerable.
What if we forgive that person and then he hurts us again?
That seems to be the question that Peter is asking Jesus in the gospel.
Must we keep forgiving someone knowing quite well that he will do us wrong again?
But what if that person keeps asking us for forgiveness?
On the other hand, it is also not that easy to ask for forgiveness.
We would have to lay aside our pride and humble ourselves to admit that we have done wrong.
But the prayer of Azariah in the 1st reading tells us God accepts a contrite soul and a humbled spirit.
If we can kneel before God to beg for forgiveness, then we also need to bend a little to forgive others, regardless of their sincerity.
Because it is in forgiving and asking for forgiveness that God’s peace will slowly but surely prevail.