It is SO frustrating

to try to get people to understand the truth. It sometimes feels very much like what the Lord is saying at the beginning of today’s first reading:

Son of man, you live in the midst of a rebellious house;
they have eyes to see but do not see,
and ears to hear but do not hear,
for they are a rebellious house.

And yet, even after having said that, the Lord still sends the prophet Ezekiel to deliver his message to the people, as rebellious as they are. The God of all eternity knows about perseverance in mercy.

We too are to persevere in mercy, as we are told very strongly in today’s Gospel.

"Lord, if my brother sins against me,
how often must I forgive him?
As many as seven times?"
Jesus answered,
"I say to you, not seven times
but seventy-seven times."

We must persevere in mercy: no matter how repetitious or useless it may feel, we must continually forgive and continually give witness to the truth.