April 30, 2025 // Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter // Optional Memorial of Saint Pius V, Pope, religious
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: John 3:16-21
Reflect on the Word //
I suddenly hit a roadblock in my journey of healing and forgiveness when I had to choose to forgive someone who was not asking for forgiveness. What felt like years of intentional and difficult work—spiritually, mentally, and emotionally—suddenly felt meaningless. I closed that door and sealed it shut. That was not a step I was ready to take, nor did I want to.
I knew the right thing to do was to forgive anyway, but as we all know too well, the distance from our heads to our hearts is often too big. I knew in my head what I needed to do, but there was so much resistance in my heart.
It was so much easier to stay in the darkness of unforgiveness. I needed to turn toward the Light to expose the lies in my heart. I needed to recognize that the darkness of my resentment comes from believing in myself instead of the true God Who came not to condemn but that we be saved through Him (see John 3:16-21). It was in Him that I found grace, courage, and patience to forgive, even when it hurt. To forgive over and over again.
I had to prefer light, the Light, to be able to forgive. I hear His invitation again and again: Step into the light, beloved. Say yes to the freedom I offer you in forgiveness.
His desire is that we come towards the Light, Him. He so loved us that He became a Man and died for us. The Lord desires that we live in the truth so that all we do is in and through Him. He wants nothing to hold us back from Him, so that our “works may be clearly seen as done in God” (John 3:21). He wants to shed His Light on where we need healing and freedom today.
Relate to the Lord // Ask Jesus what darkened door He wants to illuminate in your soul?
Mary Peach lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. She works remotely as a resource specialist for Regnum Christi after recently finishing her Master’s in Psychology. She was born in Ethiopia and adopted when she was eleven years old. Mary fell in love with the Lord as a deep and personal friend and made it her mission to help others encounter Him the same way she did. She loves to share her adoption story and healing journey in hopes to help others embrace their journey of healing as well.
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