Word to the Wise
Thursday, August 12, 2010 - Thursday in the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
[Ezekiel 12:1-12 and Matthew 18:21 - 19:1]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.".....
The parable that follows Jesus' initial words to Peter, quoted above, is the one referred to as the parable of the Unforgiving Servant. The outline of the story is simple. A servant deeply in debt to his master begs for extra time to pay. The master does more than that. He forgives the entire debt. Relieved, to be sure, the forgiven servant leaves and meets a fellow servant who owes him a tiny amount and begs for extra time to pay. The first servant refuses to show any mercy, which costs him the earlier forgiveness from his master! I use this gospel scripture in parish missions at the penitential service along with a special "examination of conscience." I remind the congregation that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is only part of the process of forgiveness. It is an important part because we know we need "debt relief!" But, the sacrament does not absolve us of the obligation to show mercy and be reconciled with our neighbor! The Lord's Prayer, which we recite thousands of times in our lives, has an explicit statement to the effect that we ask God to forgive us to the extent we forgive others!!!! Jesus ends the parable in today's gospel in the same way he ends the teaching that contains that prayer. Unless WE forgive others, we cannot expect the master to forgive US! After making this point, I lead the congregation in an examination of conscience. I ask two other readers to join me, usually a man and a woman. The "examen" focuses on the people in our lives and how we may have hurt them or have been hurt by them and try to forgive them. The list includes self, parents, children, spouse, co-workers, pastors, professional people, friends..... It has a powerful impact which I know from the confessions that follow. Forgiveness does not come easy, and we have trouble forgiving and asking for forgiveness. But the gospel is explicit. Read this one and then go back in Matthew to the Sermon on the Mount and the Lord's Prayer - Matthew 6:14-15! After reading those, take a deep breath and consider what one must do! AMEN
config
view
logs
4096.0 KB
76 ms
4
