Break Free from the past: how to find grace again

Why does God keep forgiving you, over and over, no matter how many times you fall? Father Alfonse got the answer in the confessional this week, at the exact moment he was struggling to stay awake. What God showed him will change the way you look at the one person you cannot forgive.In this Sunday homily on Ezekiel 33, Romans 13, and Matthew 18, Father Alfonse admits he was going through the motions while hearing confessions, describes the decision that snapped him out of it, and shares a message he had never preached before: God forgives us because He believes we have a future. And the reason we withhold forgiveness from others is that we have quietly decided they will never change.If you are carrying a grudge, a regret, or a past you cannot put down, this eight-minute homily is for you.✝️ Silence is not neutral: Ezekiel says God holds us responsible when we fail to speak up for someone who is going the wrong way ✝️ "Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another" sounds easy until you learn that love means to give AND to forgive ✝️ One of the hardest penances Father Alfonse ever gave was three words: "Love your mother" ✝️ A priest confesses he was falling asleep in the confessional, and why "I'm here but I'm not here" is the most dangerous way to live ✝️ God forgives your past for one reason: He believes in your future ✝️ The real reason you cannot forgive someone is that you have stopped believing they can change⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 – We are here to help, not to hurt 0:33 – Ezekiel: God will hold you responsible for your silence 1:27 – "Owe nothing to anyone" (except everything) 1:44 – The hardest penance: "Love your mother" 2:20 – What love actually means: to give and to forgive 2:34 – Matthew 18: Do whatever it takes to reach your brother 3:08 – Why we fall asleep on what matters most 4:09 – Father Alfonse's confession: going through the motions 5:05 – Snap out of it: Either be here or leave 5:44 – The decision that opened the door to God's voice 6:11 – Why God forgives us so many times 6:44 – The real reason we cannot forgive others 7:17 – Forgive your past, believe in your future🙏 PRAYER REFLECTION: Lord, You have forgiven me more times than I can count, not because I earned it, but because You still believe in who I can become. Give me the courage to stop living "here but not here," to wake up to Your voice today, and to see the people who have hurt me the way You see me: not as their worst moment, but as someone with a future. Help me forgive my past and trust You with what comes next.🎯 THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE: Name one person you have not forgiven. Write their name down. Next to it, write one specific way they could be better a year from now than they are today. Then pray that sentence for them every morning this week. You do not have to call them yet. You only have to start believing they have a future, because that is exactly how God treats you.💬 Who came to mind when Father Alfonse said "we don't believe that person can change"? Share in the comments. We read every comment and lift up your prayer intentions. 🙏👍 LIKE if this spoke to your heart 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for a new homily from Father Alfonse every week 📤 SHARE with the person who needs to hear "God believes in your future"📱 CONNECT WITH US: 🌐 Parish Website: https://www.maryimmaculatechurch.org/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryimmaculatechurch 🖋️ Blog: https://fralfonse.blogspot.com/ 📚 Substack Newsletter: https://fatheralfonse.substack.com/📺 WATCH NEXT: Feeling Alone? This Is What God Wants You to Know Right Now → https://youtu.be/P9VyTKGDhmg The Truth About Confession We Can't Ignore → https://youtu.be/qOG5ysq83a0 Why Are We Mean to Family But Nice to Strangers? A Priest Explains → https://youtu.be/df-5JRD1W-M