Forgiveness Not Taken for Granted!

Saturday, October 17, 2026

Eph 1: 15-23; Lk 12: 8-12

Today’s Gospel highlights that we cannot take God’s forgiveness for granted. 

In his preaching, Jesus reminds us that while God’s mercy is boundless, our attitude towards sin could sometimes affect it. Here, we need to ask, ‘Why does Jesus say that the sin against the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven? We may look into three reasons.

1. The Holy Spirit is the channel of God’s grace: The Holy Spirit acts as the living channel of God’s grace, and therefore, a heart that is closed to the inbreaking of the Spirit of God refuses the very grace through which forgiveness is received. When we resist God’s grace,  repentance and conversion are not possible. By condemning sins against the Holy Spirit, Jesus helps us realize that we should not reject the very grace that has come to save us. 

2. The Holy Spirit is the source of our strength: The Holy Spirit gives us the inner spiritual strength to do God’s will. The Spirit of God helps us rise above fear, doubt, and despair. It is the Spirit who helps us to be witnesses for Christ in the world. Hence, we cannot sin against the one who prepares us for life’s battles. An African proverb goes thus: ‘Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.’ 

3. The Holy Spirit is the force for good: The Spirit of God leads us away from sin and leads us towards God. He helps us recognize sin as sin, discern what is good, and supplies the strength to do it more willingly. Hence, whatever comes out of the Spirit of God will be holiness, love, justice, and reconciliation. The third person of the Trinity resides in us as a moral force, always driving our will to do what is pleasing to God.

Let us pray for a heart that never takes God’s forgiveness for granted. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar