FORGIVENESS THE ROAD TO HOLINESS
Introduction: Today's liturgy invites us to take a deep look at our attitude to forgiveness. In the first reading the book of Sirach speaks about our desire to take revenge and retaliate to people who have wronged us. In the Gospel Jesus tells St. Peter: "Forgive your brother not seven times but seventy times seven." A woman named Corrie Bona was arrested by Gestapo and was sent to concentration camp along with her sister. They were brutally treated, humiliated and molested numerous times there. After the war, Corrie Bona was set free and she became a Bible preacher in Munich Germany. One day during the service, she caught sight of a man, a former Gestapo, who was their guard at the concentration camp. After the service, this man came to her and said: "Thank you for your message, Jesus has washed away my sins." She was confused and prayed silently: "Lord Jesus, forgive me and help me to forgive him." But still she could not smile or acknowledge him. Then she prayed: "Lord give me your forgiveness. I can't forgive him on my own." Then she took his hand and was able to forgive him totally and she felt peace in her heart.
First Reading: Sirach 27: 30 to 28: 7
Second Reading: Romans 14: 7 to 9
Gospel Reading: Matthew 18: 21 to 25
*First reading is from the book of Sirach(Ecclesiastes). The desire to take revenge and vengeance is a human tendency. But our refusal to forgive those who did harm and hurt us is unacceptable in the eyes of the Lord God. Such an attitude makes us unworthy of the Lord God's forgiveness and mercy. We can experience the forgiveness of the Lord God only to the extent we forgive others.
*Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Romans. Paul instructs the Christian community at Rome that we live in union with the Lord Jesus so that we become precious in the eyes of God. Our living and dying is for the Lord and for others.
Not seven times but seventy times seven Today's Gospel reading is from St. Matthew. Jesus graphically explains to St. Peter regarding the need to forgive others unconditionally. Peter thinks forgiving his offending brother seven times is being generous and noble. But Jesus corrects him and tells him to forgive his brother not seven times but seventy times seven. Which means, he has to forgive his erroring brother countless times. Jesus further explains this teaching through a parable: The parable of two debtors. It is about a Master and his two servants. The first one owed the Master ten thousand talents (today's approximate value is 4 billion US dollars). He is asked to pay back the entire amount immediately. Unable to pay such a huge sum, he pleads for mercy and the Master out of pity forgives all his debt. Sometime later, the same servant meets a fellow servant who owed him hundred denarii, (approximate value today is 40,000 US dollars). He asks his fellow servant to pay back the entire amount immediately. This man too pleads with him to have mercy. But the first servant does not relent and puts his fellow servant in prison till he paid the entire debt. When the Master comes to know about the unforgiving attitude of the servant who is a recipient of his mercy, he is extremely upset and angry. As a result, the Master deals with him very harshly till he paid the whole debt. Jesus adds: "So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart." In this context an ancient proverb says: "To err is human but to forgive is divine." On the cross Jesus says: "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23: 24
Conclusion: Forgiving those who have done wrong to us is the pre-condition for us to receive forgiveness and mercy from God. Thus the only obstacle that we can put in the way of God's forgiveness for our sins is our refusal to forgive the sins of others. When we are faced with such painful moments in our lives let us have the humility to pray like Corrie Bona: "Lord give me your forgiveness. I cannot forgive him/her on my own."
May the Lord Jesus, who taught us to forgive others through the parable of two debtors and through His own life by forgiving His executioners, bless you and grant you the grace to forgive everyone. Amen.
(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph on YouTube follows. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version. Thanks.)
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