If he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him.” And the Apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” At first glance this exchange between Jesus and his disciples seems like a non-sequitur. What does an increase in faith have to do with forgiveness? But when you think about how hard it is to forgive someone who has hurt you — particularly someone who has hurt you multiple times — it takes a supernatural motivation to make forgiveness possible. What Jesus might have added is that real love for another demands challenging someone who is causing harm to reform their lives so that everyone can live in peace and security.
