Forgiveness

Listening to the Spirit

Holy Father, through Jesus your Son, the Word made flesh for us, send me your Holy Spirit, that my ears may be opened to hear the “letter of love” that you have written to me and enlighten my mind that I may understand it in depth. Make my heart docile that it may receive your will with joy and help me to give witness to it. Amen.

Listening to the Word

Mt 18:21-35

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, "Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.

That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.' Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, 'Pay back what you owe.' Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?' Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt.

So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart."

Reflection

Last week, the gospel was about correction, something we love to do but don’t want to receive. Today’s gospel is about something we love to receive, but we find it very hard to do, and that is forgiveness. At the center of all these dynamics, there is the unmeasurable mercy and forgiveness of God in Jesus on the cross; “Father forgive them...”

We should forgive. Pardon is not automatic, not even towards ourselves. This is a grace, a journey that sometimes takes a while. The most important and, in some cases, the most difficult part is to start the process. Once we begin it, things start to be new for us and in us. One begins to see things and to act as God does not as human beings do. Furthermore, as it is portrayed in the parable of this Sunday's gospel, we are directed to the words of the Lord in his prayer to the Father: “Forgive our sins as we forgive those who sins against us.”

We need to forgive. The first servant in the parable, through the compassion of his Master, was released from the heavy burden of his past life. In the Master himself, we can imagine the joy of giving new life to someone who asked for it. Forgiveness is beneficial for all, especially to the one who gives. To be resistant to forgive someone is to allow a past hurt to stay radioactive in our hearts and lives. Every occasion where we are called to forgive is an opportunity for all to become more similar to the heavenly Father who “is rich in mercy” (Eph 2:4).

Reading this parable must come to mind the words of the Apostle: "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom 5:8). What, then, must our behavior be toward others? With our hearts filled with gifts of freedom given by forgiveness, must not that same quality of generosity by which God has redeemed us color and influence our dealings with one another? Forgiveness is what we need to give and receive.

We can forgive. Forgiveness does more for us than for the one we forgive because it sets us free. In the gospel, the Master shows the path of mercy forgiving a huge amount to the servant. It doesn’t show weakness but strength and power. How can we begin to forgive another? Through prayer for the other, first of all. This will bring us from being a victim to become intercessors. Second, not nurturing evil about the other. Finally, not spreading evil about the other. Simple but possible ways to freedom and new life.

Reading this page of the gospel, remembering the gift of the cross and then look upon one another with a similar love and a limitless forgiveness. We can always be back to the words of the Master: “Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?”