First Reading: Sirach 27:30-28:7
Reflection:
The book of Sirach falls in the genre of Wisdom Literature in the Bible, along with other books like Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Wisdom. We would be wise to follow the instruction given in this Sunday’s first reading, which includes themes of mercy and forgiveness that we will also hear about in the Gospel reading. In essence, the message is that if we want to be forgiven and receive mercy from God, we must offer forgiveness and mercy to others. This teaching is summarized in the “Our Father” when we pray, “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Unfortunately, in our sinfulness, we often cling to wrath, anger, vengeance, and hatred. Rather than heeding the exhortation to “forgive [our] neighbor’s injustice” against us, too often we want justice to be served and our neighbor to suffer as a result of the harm he or she has done to us. But the author of Sirach directs us to remember our “last days,” “death and decay,” “the commandments,” and “the Most High’s covenant,” in order to remind us of the need to forgive our neighbor. Those reminders help us put the situation in perspective. Looking at an injustice towards us through the lens of eternity, while recognizing how short life is and how transcendent God is, cause holding grudges to seem petty. Our relationship with God and His commandments helps us realize that withholding forgiveness from someone does much more harm than good. Our anger and lack of forgiveness only serves to harm us, our relationship with others, and our relationship with God. Whereas offering forgiveness frees us to receive the mercy and forgiveness God freely offers to us.
Second Reading: Romans 14:7-9
Reflection:
There is one sure thing in life: death. Everyone is going to die. But as Christians we know that death is not the end. It is, rather, a reunion with the Lord and our brothers and sisters who have died in friendship with God. So, as St. Paul reminds us, “whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.” Looking at life through the lens of death and eternity can redirect the way we live. When we understand our identity is in the Lord and all that matters is seeking to know, love, and serve Him in this life so we can be happy with him in the next, life takes on a new perspective. Jesus Christ died and rose so He could be the Lord of our lives now and for all eternity. He loves us and wants what is best for us. He offers His mercy and forgiveness to us, so that we can have a right relationship with Him now and be with Him in heaven one day. We are called to offer the mercy and forgiveness He freely offers us to our neighbor (i.e. anyone we meet) so they can experience God’s love too.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 18:21-35
Reflection:
In this Sunday’s gospel reading, Peter asks Jesus a practical question: “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive?” He then offers the suggestion of seven times, but Jesus responds by saying, “not seven times but seventy-seven times.” Does this mean that we need not offer forgiveness for the seventy eighth offense and beyond? Of course not. The number seventy-seven, rather, represents the limitless and boundless forgiveness we are called to give to others.
Jesus then uses “The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant” to illustrate His point. In the parable, the king represents God and the servant represents mankind. The servant owes the king “a huge amount,” which in the Greek is literally “a myriad of talents.” A myriad equaled ten thousand, which was the largest number in the ancient Greek language. A talent was the largest unit of money in Jesus’ time and it was worth six thousand denarii. Each denarius was equal to about one day’s wages, so one talent was equal to about six thousand day’s wages. Now multiple six thousand days by ten thousand and you realize that the amount owed was much more than anyone could earn in one lifetime. Jesus was, in essence, saying that the servant owed an infinite debt that would be impossible for him to ever repay. Yet, the king abounded in mercy and forgave this “huge amount.” The servant should have been beyond grateful and rejoiced in the incredible act of mercy shown to him by the king, but instead he went and found a fellow servant who owed him a small amount (namely, he owed one hundred denarii–about one hundred day’s wages) and demanded he repay him immediately. When the fellow servant requested mercy and patience, the servant had him thrown in prison until he would repay his debt.
The moral of the story is that we owe an infinite debt to God because of our sins. When we sin, we commit an offense against an infinite God, which creates a debt that no human being can pay back on his own. But Jesus, who is God, became man in order to pay that infinite debt for us. Through the mercy offered to us through Jesus Christ we can be forgiven of our sins and set free from the just consequences of our sins–namely, hell. But that gift of salvation can be lost if we take for granted the mercy bestowed on us and don’t pass it along to others. To live in the grace of God we must love our neighbor. We must forgive others, as we have been forgiven. The parable is clear that God will withhold forgiveness from us if we are not willing to forgive others. The unwillingness to forgive is a toxic vice that not only harms our relationship with others, especially those we are unwilling to forgive, but also can break our relationship with God, resulting in condemnation to hell. For, as Jesus said, “So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.” Let us, therefore, forgive each other abundantly out of gratefulness for the abundant mercy God has given to us.
Application:
- Think of people who have hurt you. Have you forgiven those people? If not, what would it take to do so? In prayer, ask God to help you forgive the injustices others have done against you. If possible, contact the person who has hurt you and verbalize to them that you forgive what they did. Offer mercy and forgiveness to others so you can receive the mercy and forgiveness God offers you.
