Gospel Reading: Mt 18:21-35
Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan.
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, Tuesday he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”
NOT SEVEN TIMES BUT SEVENTY-SEVEN TIMES
This is Jesus’ response to Peter who asks him how many times must he forgive his brother who sins against him.
Numbers in the Bible are symbolic. Seven implies perfection. Creation in Gn 1 is completed in six days, and on the seventh day God rests.
Seventy-seven times means without limit. Whether in our family, community, or society, misunderstandings, quarrels, and conflicts cannot be avoided. Through the parable of the unforgiving servant, Jesus teaches us that just as God forgives us, so we too must forgive our “debtors,” those who have wronged us.
If we are unwilling to forgive, then we cannot expect the heavenly Father to forgive us.
Let us be sincere when we pray, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us” (Mt 6:12).
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2016,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
