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FORGIVE US AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS
Sirach 27:30-28:9; Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-35.
The Christian’s forgiveness of his fellow human beings is founded on the fact that he himself is a forgiven person. He forgives others even as God has forgiven him. This is the centre of the discourse in today’s Gospel - and indeed, the New Testament in General.
This Gospel passage is set on the background of last Sunday’s Gospel reading where in the organized Christian Community, the pattern of Christian fraternal correction is set. Fraternal correction, forgiveness and reconciliation are encouraged in that passage. First, one is to try to sort things out, and then, in the case of failure, go over to one or two wise brethren. Where issues are not resolved, the Gospel counsels the matter to be taken to the Church, and if such a fellow fails to reconcile, he should be thrown out of the Christian Community.
In today’s gospel, a practical question arises against such a background, and it is Peter who comes to our aid. In the Jewish world or milieu, forgiveness of the neighbour was allowed three (3) times, but not a fourth (4th) time; the fourth time was reserved for God alone! In fact, even this reservation of the fourth time for God was only found in the teachings of a few Rabbis. Some would quickly refer to God’s own dealings in Amos (Cf. 1:3, 6, 9, 11, etc.) where we read: “for three transgressions and for four . . .” there is punishment of one kind or the other. Peter therefore must have felt cool with himself for asking the Lord if he should forgive seven (7) times! This was generosity to the extreme, he must have mused, even beyond the teachings of the Rabbis.
Imagine Peter’s smug face, waiting to be commended by the Master, when to his dismay, he hears “no Peter, not seven times, but seventy times seven!” This is because in the new dispensation, the goodness of a person is not set against the goodness of other people, but the goodness of God himself! And so Peter’s generosity falls short, as does our generosity. The depth of the love of God, the mercy of God, the forgiveness of God for us cannot be fathomed. The sin of man went beyond himself, beyond time and eternity and yet God, in Jesus Christ His Son, forgave us totally and unconditionally. It is this magnitude of forgiveness that Jesus paints in the picture that follows.
It is in a setting where the Judge has true powers. A politician embezzles the entire budget of Nigeria (trillions of naira). He can’t pay, and is given a suspended sentence. Upon getting back home, he fires his laundryman for taking the one thousand (1000) naira he forgot in his pocket. Imagine another scenario where one person kills another, is forgiven, and on his way, some other person steps on his foot and he has him arrested and imprisoned.
Two things run through this passage: God is merciful in an unfathomable degree. We too, in our small ways (even when we consider them big) should forgive at all times. Because of the depth of the mercy God has shown us, we too MUST FORGIVE or we would not be forgiven (Cf. Matthew 6:14-15). Live the mercy of God, forgive. Don’t count if others have forgiven you; count the fact that God has forgiven you and show your own appreciation by forgiving.
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TODAY
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
- 6:15am - Morning Mass
- 12pm - Mid-day Mass
- 6:30pm - Evening Mass
Today's Reading
ST. TURIBIUS OF MONGROVEJO, B.(Opt. Mem)
Liturgical Colour:Violet
Reading 1 Jer 18:18-20
Ps 30:5-6. 14-16.(R.v.17); Accl Jn 8:12
Gosp Mt 20:17-28
THIS WEEK
UPCOMING
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