Some wounds are easy to move past. Others stay with us. A harsh word from someone we love, a betrayal we never expected, or an injustice that was never acknowledged can remain in the heart for years. We may know that Jesus calls us to forgive, yet still wonder, How am I supposed to forgive this?

Jesus gives a clear instruction in today's Gospel: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone." The command sounds simple, but living out this teaching proves difficult. When someone hurts us, our first instinct rarely points toward a private, honest conversation.