YEAR OF ST.PAUL THE APOSTLE

St. Paul, the indefatigable Apostle of the Gentiles, was converted from Judaism on the road to Damascus. He remained some days in Damascus after his Baptism, and then went to Arabia, possibly for a year or two to prepare himself for his future missionary activity. Having returned to Damascus, he stayed there for a time, preaching in the synagogues that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. For this he incurred the hatred of the Jews and had to flee from the city. He then went to Jerusalem to see Peter and pay his homage to the head of the Church.

Later he went back to his native Tarsus, where he began to evangelize his own province until called by Barnabus to Antioch. After one year, on the occasion of a famine, both Barnabus and Paul were sent with alms to the poor Christian community at Jerusalem. Having fulfilled their mission they returned to Antioch.

Soon after this, Paul and Barnabus made the first missionary journey, visiting the island of Cypress, then Pamphylia, Pisidia, and Lycaonia, all in Asia Minor, and establishing churches at Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe.

After the Apostolic Council of Jerusalem Paul, accompanied by Silas and later also by Timothy and Luke, made his second missionary journey, first revisiting the churches previously established by him in Asia Minor, and then passing through Galatia. At Troas a vision of a Macedonian was had by Paul, which impressed him as a call from God to evangelize in Macedonia. He accordingly sailed for Europe, and preached the Gospel in Philippi. Thessalonica, Beroea, Athens, and Corinth. Then he returned to Antioch by way of Ephesus and Jerusalem.

On his third missionary journey, Paul visited nearly the same regions as on the second trip, but made Ephesus where he remained nearly three years, the center of his missionary activity. He laid plans also for another missionary journey, intending to leave Jerusalem for Rome and Spain. Persecutions by the Jews hindered him from accomplishing his purpose. After two years of imprisonment at Caesarea he finally reached Rome, where he was kept another two years in chains.

HOW DO I FORGIVE

Forgiveness without Limits

How many times should we forgive someone who sins against us?
Jesus gave Peter a surprising answer to that question ....

"I do not say to you, up to seven times but up to seventy times seven"
- -Mathew 18:22

Our Lord was not giving a mathematical or leagalistic limitation on forgiveness. Rather Jesus was teaching Peter that forgiveness should be without a set limit - Just like God's forgiveness toward us.

The Lord then told a parable to illustrate the great forgiveness of a perfect and holy God, and what that requires of us in forgiving others. Take a moment and read that parable in Mathew 18: 23-35.

It is clear we must forgive others. But what is forgiveness? How do we actually forgive someone? By forgiving the way the Bible teaches, we can be free of the pain and inury someone has caused us and be healed of that pain by our loving Heavenly Father.

Forgiveness is a Choice

Forgivenss is not a feeling or emotion. Forgiveness is a choice you consciously make. You make a decision to forgive someone, regardless of how you feel about them or what they did. Forgiveness means letting go of a wrong and the subsequent pain caused by another. It includes refusing to either seek revenge or correct or confront someone who has hurt you.

Forgiveness is an act involving our will, heart and mind.