First Reading: Sirach 27:30-28:7/Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 103:1-2.3-4.9-10.11-12 (R. 8)
Second Reading: Romans 14:7-9/Gospel Acclamation: John 13:34/Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35
Theme: FORGIVE AND BE FORGIVEN
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. For if you forgive others
their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses (Matthew 6:12, 14-15).
In recent times, we have watched and listened to news on TV and on the internet about refugees,
migrants and victims of natural disasters flee their homes and death-traps. One common feature
about such people is that they try to carry loads of their essential belongings, which most of the
time, are heavy. However, because they do not want to part with their luggage, no matter how
heavy they may be, they keep carrying them as far as their journey takes them. Inability to forgive is like carrying a heavy load. It is a situation of double tragedy, in the sense that, first and foremost, like a refugee, migrant and a displaced person, one misses the comfort of their homes, and secondly, they are carrying neck-breaking and yoke-making burdens of baggage.
To forgive is theonly way out; and forgiveness is stopping the anger and bitterness caused by someone whowronged us. It means letting go of the bad blood, grudges, pains, hurts and negative feelings in our relationships. This brings not only healing, but also, restoration, renewal, growth and peace.We are told in the first reading from the Book of Sirach (also called Ecclesiasticus), that, “Forgive your neighbour the wrong he has done, and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray. Does a man harbour anger against another, and yet seek for healing from the Lord?” (Sir.28:2-3). Like a drama, the message of Sirach is acted out in the Gospel today where a servant, whose heavy debt was all forgiven, failed to forgive his fellow colleague who owed him just a pittance. The first servant owed his master 10,000 talents, and a talent was equivalent to 15 years’ wages.
This means in total he owed his master (10,000 x 15 =150,000 years’ wages). Little no wonder his master wanted to sell him together with all his family and belongings! On the other hand, the second servant owed the first just 100 denarii which was just about 3 months’ wages. In the end, the first servant was severely punished for his unforgiving and merciless heart. Like St. Peter, we may hasten to ask Jesus how many times to forgive sins committed against us.
Together with Peter, we may even answer with a question: seven times? By this, Peter was thinking he ought to forgive every day and that will be perfect, since there are seven days in a week and seven is a perfect number! However, Jesus multiplied it saying: “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven” (Mt. 18:22). Mathematically, that number amounts to 490.
This means, we need not just forgive every day, but must do so without limit, always at all times in order for forgiveness to be perfect! So, for Jesus forgiveness must characterise our lives.
Withholding forgiveness has ripple and adverse effects on the individual and others as well.
Medically, it increases one’s blood pressure, saps their energy and wears them down gradually.
Psychologically, one is robbed of happiness and peace of mind. Socially, it strains relationships as it drives spouses, friends and colleagues away. Spiritually, it leads to a multiplicity of sins such as bitterness, gossip, insults, quarrels, fights, malice, false witness, character assassination,
vengeance and even, murder. With all these implications, how can one enter paradise? With this
‘heavy’ luggage, how can one have the strength needed to make heaven? With unforgiving spirit,
a child of God becomes a veritable tool for the devil and makes the world look like hell on earth!
As we live together in a human institution, misunderstandings and offences are bound to happen.
Even the tongue and teeth sometimes experience this when there is food in the mouth, yet they coexist peaceably. Therefore, the second reading teaches that “None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so, then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” (Rom. 14:7). This means that nobody lives in isolation; no one is self-contained. We all are related to and need one another, for no one is an island. According to William Barclay, “We are all bound to one another and to Christ by ties that neither time nor eternity can break.” If this is the case, then, we should see ourselves as brothers and sisters, children of the same father who is God, and be ready to forgive as God forgives us. If we do not, it means we do not know Christ, and are not Christians at all!
To be Christian is to forgive.
Those who call themselves Christians and cannot forgive others are
deceiving themselves because they are not reflecting the image of God, whom the Responsorial
Psalm describes as “Compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and rich in mercy. It is he
who forgives all your sins, who heals every one of your ills, who redeems your life from the
grave, who crowns you with mercy and compassion” (Ps. 103:8, 3-4).
Perhaps, we have beenpraying for breakthroughs, favours and God’s blessings. We may also have been praying for a long time and there seems to be no way and no answers. Imagine the psycho-somatic diseases which may be eating away both our spiritual and physical health. Why will we not set ourselves free from this self-inflicted pain? Why shoot ourselves in the leg? We ought to forgive so that we may experience breakthroughs. Let us listen heartily to Jesus in the Gospel Acclamation: “A new commandment I give to you, says the Lord, that you love one another, even as I have loved you” (Jn. 13:34). With love, we can conquer the poison of unforgiveness. Let us ask ourselves:
- Presently, do I nurse any form of anger, bitterness and grudge against anybody at all?
- Do I find it increasingly difficult to say sorry or apologise to those I have offended?
- Am I resolved today based on God’s word, to forgive others as I want God to forgive me?
Prayer: God almighty Father, I have learnt today that human and divine forgiveness go hand in hand. My sin brought about the death of your Son Jesus Christ on the cross. Yet, Christ was generous enough to forgive me all my sins. What is greater than this forgiveness? On my part, I have consistently failed to forgive my fellow human beings the little sins they have committed against me in comparison with the sin I have committed against you. I humbly beg you to send forth your Holy Spirit to burn away the roots of anger, bitterness and pain. Heal my sin-sick soul and refresh it with the seed of love and mercy that they may germinate and become the tree of forgiveness giving shade and shelter to my neighbours. Restore and bring me to reconciliation with you and with my fellow human beings. Thank you, Lord. This I ask through Christ our Lord.
Happy Sunday and may God richly bless us! Remember: #Forgive-And-Be-Forgiven#
By Rev. Fr. Lucas Binnah Junior, C.S.Sp.
