At that point Peter had the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?” Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.”. (Matthew 18: 21 – 22)

Jesus’ words are uncomfortable because forgiveness is rarely as easy as saying the words. Peter wants to know where the limit is. How many times is enough? Jesus turns the question around. Forgiveness is not about keeping score.

In a school community, people make mistakes. Words are misunderstood, tensions build, decisions disappoint, communication breaks down, and sometimes the same frustrations keep resurfacing. We can easily carry a mental record of who has let us down, who owes us an apology, or who has made things harder than they needed to be. Jesus challenges us to put down the scorecard and choose a different way of living.

For teachers and support staff, this is deeply practical. Forgiveness does not mean ignoring harm, avoiding difficult conversations or pretending everything is fine. It means refusing to allow resentment to shape how we see another person. It means leaving room for people to learn, change, apologise and begin again. Sometimes forgiveness is a decision we make long before our feelings catch up.

Catholic schools are called to be places where people experience not just justice, but mercy. That starts with us. Who might we need to stop keeping a record against? Where could we choose understanding instead of judgement? Where might we need to offer someone another chance, or perhaps ask for one ourselves?

Jesus’ challenge is simple but demanding: don’t count the times someone has failed. Look for the possibility of a new beginning.