Scripture:
Daniel 3:25, 34-43
Mattew 18:21-35
Reflection:
But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received… -Daniel 3:39
Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” -Matthew 18:22
In today’s gospel we find the parable of the Unforgiving Servant. This is a very detailed story likening the kingdom of heaven to what awaits those who rely on God’s mercy but neglect to extend that same mercy to their brothers and sisters. I’m going to focus on the lead-in to the parable.
Here we again find Peter being Peter. He is always so down to earth. He knows Jesus preaches forgiveness and mercy, yet he wants to know the exact amount he has to extend. He wants the rules laid out clearly so that he can be assured of his place in heaven. He thought he was being generous with forgiving someone seven times. Jesus goes way beyond this. Some translations even read this not as 77, but as 7 x 70 or 490! In any case, it’s clear that Jesus is saying, “Just keep forgiving.”
Many times in the psalms we hear how God looks away from our sins, how they are removed far from us. Jesus calls us to show that same forgiveness to each other. This can be challenging on a daily basis. How many of us grit our teeth and clench the steering wheel while driving? It’s easy to harbor memories of slights and affronts from our families and friends as well. However, as Christians we are called to put those aside, to let them go and move on. This can sometimes be easier said than done.
I might suggest that a good place to start is with forgiving yourself, that is relying on God’s forgiveness. It is such a human thing to hold on to regrets of our own past transgressions that there is an internet meme circulating about our brain keeping us awake, rehashing our previous failures. By allowing God’s forgiveness to flow over us, we become free to forgive others. Brother Lawrence, a 17th century monk, was asked how he dealt with his own sins. He essentially said he’d confess them to God, then forget them, trusting to God’s forgiveness. Perhaps if we practice on ourselves, we will find it easier to forgive those around us.
Talib Huff is a retired teacher and a member of the retreat team at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center in Citrus Heights, California. You can contact him at [email protected].