Of the 7 petitions in the Our Father, only one do we ask God to grant on a conditional basis. That one is forgiveness. We ask not for unlimited forgiveness which would correspond to unconditional love, but we ask God to limit his forgiveness and to make it like our own.
Once again God puts us in charge of our life. Can we still receive unlimited forgiveness? Sure it's simple. All we have to do is be willing to forgive everyone who has hurt us. Then that same boundless mercy will be ours.
Time and again I hear people say, "I don't believe in hell", or "I don't believe in a God that would send anyone to hell." Does hell exist? It must. In order for us to freely choose to love God we must also have the freedom to reject God. If there is no hell, there is no free will.
The greatest power God has given us is the power to choose.
May he give is the wisdom and prudence to think before we make our choices today.
