Word to the Wise
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 3rd Week of Lent - Tues
[Dan 3:25, 34-43 and Matt 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!"
At the present time, I am in Sierra Vista, AZ, to preach a parish mission at St. Andrew the Apostle Parish. Today is the second day of the mission and features a emphasis on reconciliation and forgiveness. The lectionary appears to be cooperating with me because the gospel scripture today is exactly the one I ordinarily use for the Reconciliation Service scheduled for this evening! There are some important reasons (at least I consider them important) for choosing this particular gospel passage.
The first and most important reason is that Jesus shows Peter that forgiveness of one's neighbor is a condition for God's forgiveness! I usually begin the Reconciliation Service by asking a somewhat silly question: "How many times have you prayed the 'Our Father?'" Of course, I get a chuckle from the congregation. The answer is beyond guessing. I then call attention to the lines, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us!" We ask God to forgive us TO THE EXTENT THAT WE FORGIVE OTHERS! Jesus teaches his prayer near the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, and at the end of the prayer, he reinforces the admonition by telling the disciples bluntly that if they do not forgive others, neither will their Heavenly Father forgive them! [Matt 6:14-15] The parable in today's gospel comes later in Matthew's gospel and provides a chilling example! It tells us that "forgiveness" is not just between us and God but between us and neighbor! The "Unforgiving Servant" fails to show the mercy he has received! There is an essential "horizontal" dimension. If we leave the confessional and fail to forgive the person we meet soon after with whom we have an "issue," what good has the sacrament done for us?
Furthermore, there is that "seventy-seven times" to consider. Not only do we have to learn to forgive, but to forgive again and again! This is why the "Examination of Conscience" that I use for the penitential service focuses on relationships and not actions. It requires that we "put a face" on forgiveness. Some people who have hurt us (or perhaps some people WE have hurt) are a continual challenge and forgiveness will have to occur not just once but many times! We not only have to "put a face" on forgiveness, we have to "put skin" on forgiveness and actually do it (or ask for it from someone)! My experience with the confessions that follow that "Examination" is that people come to terms with forgiveness in a way they never have before!
Even a quick reading of the gospels will show us that Jesus made forgiveness a major theme of his preaching. It remains a major theme for us to hear and heed if we want him to forgive us! AMEN
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