Courtesy demands that we always return a favour, no matter how insignificant it appears. When we reciprocate acts of kindness, we do not do so because the recipients are deserving of it, but because that is the right thing to do as civilised and spiritual beings. As believers we must always go the extra mile in order to make a difference. Hence, responding to Peter’s question on how often he must forgive his brother, Jesus said, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times. Our ability to forgive and do good to those who offend us is an inverted form of reciprocity. Thus, since we cannot forgive God directly because he cannot wrong us, we have to reciprocate by forgiving our neighbour who can wrong us. And since we cannot really offer any kindness to God, we reciprocate God’s kindness to our fellow humans. Indeed, we cannot expect to enter heaven if we cannot reciprocate to our neighbours, all that we have received from God.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me to be like you in heart, so that I may be able to forgive my offenders without counting the cost. Amen