Homily – “Crossing the Jordan, Forgiving Without Limit”

Memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe

Brothers and sisters,

Today the Word of God and the life of a saint stand side by side to teach us one thing: the way into the Promised Land passes through mercy.

In the first reading, Joshua is about to lead the people into the land God promised them. But before they can take a single step, the Jordan River stands in the way.

And how does God solve it?
Not by building a bridge.
Not by giving them boats.
But by sending the priests ahead with the Ark of the Covenant—the sign of God’s presence among His people.

When the priests’ feet touch the water, the river stops. The people cross on dry ground.

The Ark was the visible sign of God’s covenant in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, God’s presence is no longer just in an Ark—it is in the Tabernacle, in the Eucharist.

And just as Israel could only enter the Promised Land by following God’s presence, we can only enter Heaven by following Christ truly present in His Church.

Then in the Gospel, Peter comes to Jesus with a question:

“Lord, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?”

Seven times is already generous in human terms. But Jesus replies:

“Not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

In other words: stop counting. Forgiveness is not a quota—it’s a way of life.

Why? Because that’s how God forgives us.
If He forgave only as often as we deserved, we would all be lost. But His mercy is unlimited—and He calls us to extend that mercy to others.

Today we see that lived in St. Maximilian Kolbe.
In 1941, in Auschwitz, when ten men were chosen to die by starvation, one cried out for his wife and children.
Fr. Kolbe stepped forward and said: “I am a Catholic priest; take me instead.”

He took the man’s place—not because the man was his friend, not because he had earned it—but because that’s what Christ would do.

In that dark cell, Kolbe prayed, encouraged the others, and forgave their captors. He did not just cross a river—he crossed the threshold into eternal life, carrying mercy with him.

Both Joshua and Kolbe remind us:

• God’s people are always led by His presence.
• The Church is not just a moral club—it is the ark of salvation, with Christ in the Eucharist at its heart.
• The way we enter the true Promised Land is through mercy—received in Confession, and given freely to others.

This is why Jesus gave His Church the authority to forgive sins (John 20:23). It’s why we don’t just “pray about” our sins privately—we bring them to the priest, because the priest stands, like Joshua, leading us into freedom.

So how do we live this in practice?

• Follow the Presence: Keep Christ at the centre of your life. Visit Him in the Tabernacle. Receive Him in Holy Communion worthily.
• Let the Jordan Part: Whatever obstacle is in the way—fear, resentment, sin—bring it before the Lord in prayer and the sacraments.
• Forgive Without Counting: Start today. That person who hurt you—let it go. Not because they deserve it, but because God has forgiven you far more.

The Israelites entered the Promised Land by following the Ark.
We will enter Heaven by following Christ in His Church.

Peter learned that the road to the Kingdom is walked with mercy.
Maximilian Kolbe showed that mercy can go all the way to the cross.

So I ask you:
Who do you need to forgive today?
And will you follow Christ—not just to the edge of the river, but across it, all the way into the Kingdom?